The
Tailhook
Report
The Official Inquiry into
the Events of Tailhook '91
The Shocking Details
Behind the Scandal That
Has Rocked the Nation
Office of the
Inspector General
The
Tailhook
Report
The
Tailhook
Report
[ The Official Inquiry into the
Events of Tailhook '91 ]
Office of the
Inspector General
(Department of Defense)
St. Martin's Press | New York
THE TAILHOOK REPORT! THE OFFICIAL INQUIRY INTO THE EVENTS OF TAILHOOK '91.
Publisher's Note and Publisher's Footnotes Copyright © 1993 by St. Martin's
Press. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of
this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without
written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical
articles or reviews. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth
Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
#
Design by Jaye Zimet
ISBN 0-312-10392-8
First Edition: June 1993
10 987654321
Contents
Publisher's Note [ vii ]
Foreword [ xi ]
I. Executive Summary [7]
II. Scope and Investigative
Methodology [5]
A. Scope [ 5 ]
B. Methodology [7]
III. The Tailhook Association [75]
A. Background [ 75 ]
B. Professional Aspects of Tailhook '91 [16]
C. Relationship Between the Navy and the Tailhook
Association [ 7 7 ]
IV. Witness and Navy Cooperation [27]
V. Squadron Hospitality Suites [25]
A. Background [25 ]
B. Tailhook '91 [28]
VI. Indecent Assaults [37]
A. Gauntlet [37]
B. Victims [54]
C. Other Assaults and Injuries [56]
[ v]
Contents
VII. Indecent Exposure [59]
A. Streaking [59]
B. Mooning [60]
C. "Ballwalking" [61 ]
VIII. Other Improper Activity [67]
A. Leg Shaving [67]
B. "Belly/Navel Shots" [69]
C. Pornography [69]
D. Chicken Fights [70]
E. "Butt Biting" [70]
F. "Zapping" [71]
G. Public and Paid Sex [74]
IX. Security [75]
A. Las Vegas Hilton Hotel [75]
B. Tailhook Association [78]
X. Officer Attitudes and Leadership
Issues [81 ]
A. Officer Attitudes [81 ]
B. The Failure of Leadership [86]
Field Grade Officers [89]
The Flag Officers [90]
XI. Conclusions [95]
Appendices
A. Tailhook '91 Agenda [99]
B. Tailhook Association Submittal [105]
C. Navy Submittal [ 113 ]
D. Glossary of Squadron Designators [ 117 ]
E. Individual Squadron Suite Summaries [119]
F. Individual Victim/Assault Summaries [179]
G. List of Rag Officers [249]
[vi]
Publisher's Note
For the past 18 months, the molestations and acts of indecency that
occurred at the 35th Annual Tailhook Symposium in Las Vegas in
September 1991 and the official responses to those acts have been
the subject of extensive press coverage, Congressional scrutiny, and
public outrage. Arguably this has resulted in the recent sweeping
changes seen in the U.S. Navy's policies regarding sexual harass-
ment, the role of women in the service in general, and the expanded
combat opportunities for women in specific. It has certainly ended
or derailed the careers of several of the most senior Navy officials,
while over 100 additional officers, junior and senior, still face the
prospect of courts-martial or disciplinary action stemming from the
events of Tailhook '91.
The Tailhook Association, a private, nonprofit social/professional
organization of naval aviators, contractors, and others involved in
naval aviation, has hosted an annual professional conference at the
Las Vegas Hilton for decades. (In 1991, over 4,000 naval officers
attended the weekend conference.) The U.S. Navy has consistently
provided significant support and cooperation to the conference and
to the Association. While the quality and usefulness of the confer-
ence has been unchallenged, the social or "party" aspects of the
conference had been growing increasingly out of control in the years
before 1991. As the following report documents, this progression
had been noted with concern by the Tailhook Association and some
senior Navy officers in the years prior to the 1991 conference and
yet no effective course of action was adopted to curb or control that
behavior. In the view of the authors of this report, Tailhook '91 was
one of the "tamer" of the recent conventions and still they were able
to identify 90 victims of indecent assault by naval officers as well as
numerous other acts of indecency over the weekend of the confer-
ence.
Unlike the previous Tailhook Symposiums, however, the events of
Tailhook '91 caught the attention of the press and Congress. Over a
[ v/i]
Publisher's Note
month after the conference, in the face of an impending article in the
San Diego Union and the official complaint of assault at Tailhook
'91 lodged by Lt. Paula Coughlin, then-Secretary of the Navy H.
Lawrence Garrett III took the first official action. He directed the
Navy to end all support for the Tailhook Association (support that
included providing the Association with free office space and trans-
porting Navy officers to the annual conference at an estimated cost
of $400,000 in 1991) and to aid an investigation into the events of
Tailhook '91. A week later, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral
Frank B. Kelso removed Rear Admiral John W. Snyder, Jr. , from his
prestigious post as commander of the Patuxent River Naval Air Test
Center for "his apparent failure to take timely and appropriate ac-
tion" when his aide, Lt. Paula Coughlin, reported to him her abuse
at Tailhook '91. In the press reports of the time, Rear Admiral Sny-
der's transfer to a lesser post was described by an unnamed Navy
source as "the kind of thing where they leave a pistol on the table
and everybody leaves the room."
The full investigation promised by then-Secretary of the Navy
Garrett failed to materialize. The report issued by the Navy Inspector
General and the Naval Investigative Service in April 1992 did estab-
lish that many senior officers in attendance at Tailhook '91 were
aware of the assaults and acts of indecency that took place and failed
to take appropriate action. However, the report identified few of the
officers who took part in the assaults, and it cited the large-scale lack
of cooperation on the part of the officers and their Commanding
Officers as the reason. Significantly, it was discovered that the NIS
had failed to include in its final report 55 pages of interviews, one
of which placed Navy Secretary Garrett at the scene of many of the
indecent assaults that occurred at Tailhook '91. When, in early June
of 1992, this omission became public knowledge and criticism
mounted for the meager results of the investigation (including some
accusing the Navy of a "whitewash"), Secretary Garrett turned the
Tailhook inquiry over to the independent Office of the Inspector Gen-
eral.
Lt. Paula Coughlin, in apparent frustration over the Navy's lack
of action and in response to a rumored whispering campaign against
her, publicly identified herself and described her attack at Tailhook
'91 in press interviews in late June of 1992. In response to the arti-
cles and news stories about Lt. Coughlin, and reportedly angry over
the Navy's handling of the entire affair, the White House requested
and received Secretary Garrett's resignation.
[viii]
Publisher's Note
On July 1, 1992, Vice Admiral Richard M. Dunleavy (Assistant
Chief of Naval Operations at the time of Tailhook '91) retired from
the Navy at a reduced rank. During both the initial investigation by
the NIS and the subsequent inquiry by the Office of the Inspector
General it was established that Dunleavy had witnessed the famous
"Gauntlet" at Tailhook '91 and had taken no action. The two ad-
mirals in charge of the initial ineffective investigation were report-
edly forced to resign as well.
Published in February of 1993 and released to the public in late
April of 1993, the following report by the Inspector General is a
devastating indictment of the behavior of the officers at Tailhook '91
and of the senior officers' failure of leadership in the matter. An
exhaustive account of the much-disputed events of Tailhook '91, it
is likely to be the most complete report of what has come to be
regarded as the most wide-ranging scandal in the history of the U.S.
Navy. In the press conference following the release of this report,
Admiral Kelso, Chief of Naval Operations, said, "Tailhook brought
to light the fact that we had an institutional problem with women . . .
it was a watershed event that has brought about cultural change."
With the establishment of far stricter rules regarding sexual harass-
ment and the accountability of the commanding officers regarding
charges of harassment brought to their attention, the implementation
of an extensive training program on that issue, and the expansion of
women's role in the U.S. Navy, that cultural change in already in
progress.
The investigative files on 140 individuals were referred back to
the Navy by the Inspector General for investigation and possible
courts-martial or disciplinary action. The Navy and Marine Corps
have set up military panels— headed by Major General Charles Kru-
lak for the Marine Corps and Vice Admiral Joseph Reason for the
Navy— to determine what action or punishments, if any, are appro-
priate. With the statute of limitations on many of the charges due to
run out in September of 1993 (two years after the events of Tailhook
'91), any such decisions must be made soon. As of this writing no
actions regarding these 140 individuals have been publicly
announced.
[ ix]
»
Foreword
February 1993
In this report, we have attempted to describe the events that occurred
at the 35th Annual Symposium of the Tailhook Association (Tailhook
'91) in as complete a manner as possible. We determined that at least
90 indecent assaults took place and a considerable amount of im-
proper and indecent conduct occurred. Although our purpose is not
to shock or offend readers or to sensationalize the accounts of the
various incidents, there are sections of the report that contain graphic
language. After considerable reflection regarding how best to present
our findings, we determined that general descriptions and euphe-
misms failed to convey a full impression of the prevailing atmo-
sphere in which the assaults took place.
We have used a few pictures* from the more than 800 obtained
during the investigation where we believe a picture would signifi-
cantly enhance the readers' understanding of the general situation or
particular event. Some of the pictures are offensive and not in good
taste, but they add to any description of what took place. We chose
not to use many of the pictures, particularly those depicting indecent
exposure, because they did not convey any better understanding than
the descriptions used in the report.
It is important to understand that the events at Tailhook '91 did
not occur in a historical vacuum. Similar behavior had occurred at
previous conventions. The emerging pattern of some of the activi-
ties, such as the gauntlet, began to assume the aura of "tradition."
There is even some evidence to suggest that Tailhook '91 was
"tame" in comparison to earlier conventions. Although there were
some attempts made in past years to curb improper behavior, such
attempts were ineffective. In fact, many of the younger officers who
♦Publisher's Note: The 14 photographs included in the Government Printing
Office version of The Tailhook Report have been omitted.
[xi ]
Foreword
attended Tailhook '91 felt the excesses that occurred there were con-
doned by the Navy. This belief is understandable given that the Navy
continued to support the Tailhook Association and the annual con-
vention notwithstanding the knowledge on the part of many senior
Navy leaders of significant misconduct that had taken place at prior
conventions. More disturbingly, the evidence indicates that at least
one former high-ranking civilian Navy official engaged in lewd be-
havior at a prior Tailhook convention in front of junior officers.
There is no excuse for the misconduct and unbecoming behavior that
occurred at Tailhook '91. However, to be fair to those engaged in
nonassaultive activities, such as indecent exposure and drunkenness,
the reader must keep in mind that an atmosphere was permitted to
develop over a period of years which encouraged officers to act in
inappropriate ways.
Finally, we recognize that the effects of Tailhook '91 have had a
negative impact on the morale of many members of the Navy. We
believe that neither the entire Navy nor the aviation community gen-
erally should be judged on the basis of the misconduct of some offi-
cers at Tailhook, and we commend the many loyal and dedicated
Navy and Marine Corps aviators who continually perform their du-
ties in an exemplary fashion.
[jcii ]
INSPECTOR GENERAL
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
400 ARMY NAVY DRIVE
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22202-2884
April 12, 1993
MEMORANDUM FOR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
subject: Report of Investigation: Tailhook '91 — Part 2, Events of
the 35th Annual Tailhook Symposium
We have completed the second of two reports regarding Tailhook
'91. The enclosed report describes what transpired at the Las Vegas
Hilton Hotel between September 8 and 12, 1991. The report, which
was completed in mid-February, provides information on the status
of our investigation as of January 31, 1993.
Misconduct at the 1991 Tailhook Symposium was more wide-
spread than previously reported by the Navy. We identified 90 vic-
tims of indecent assault. In addition, we documented a significant
number of incidents of indecent exposure, and other types of sexual
misconduct, as well as other improprieties by Navy and Marine
Corps officers. We established that more than 50 officers made false
statements to us during the investigation.
Investigative files on at least 140 officers are being referred to the
Acting Secretary of the Navy for consideration of appropriate action.
All individual files and records developed during the investigation
will be made available to the convening authorities for review. Ad-
ministrative or disciplinary action may be warranted against other
officers whose actions and conduct are described in these records.
In addition, investigative files regarding the 30 Navy flag officers,
2 Marine Corps general officers, and 3 Navy Reserve flag officers
who attended Tailhook '91 will be forwarded to the Acting Secretary
of the Navy after you have had an opportunity to review them. I
believe the files pertaining to the flag officers should be evaluated
outside of the convening authorities to determine whether action is
warranted with respect to the responsibility of each flag officer for
the overall leadership failure that culminated in the events of Tail-
hook'91.
I would appreciate being advised of the actions taken by you or
[ xiii ]
Foreword
the Navy with respect to the report. I will, of course, make myself
and the OIG staff available to discuss the matter further with the new
Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Comman-
dant of the Marine Corps, the convening authorities and their legal
staffs.
Derek J. Wander Schaaf
Deputy Inspector General
[ xiv ]
The
A I L H O O K
Report
Section I
Executive Summary
This report covers Part 2 of our inquiry into events relating to the
35th Annual Symposium of the Tailhook Association (Tailhook '91)
held at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel from Thursday, September 5 to
Sunday, September 8, 1991. The inquiry was initiated in response
to a request from the Secretary of the Navy on June 18, 1992.
This report is primarily focused on the events at Tailhook '91; Part
1, issued on September 21, 1992, detailed our review of the Navy
investigations of Tailhook '91 and related matters. Part 1 of the re-
port concluded that the scope of the Navy's earlier investigations
should have been expanded beyond the indecent assaults to encom-
pass other violations of law and regulation as they became apparent
and should have addressed individual accountability for the leader-
ship failure that created an atmosphere in which the assaults and
other misconduct took place. In that regard, the first part of our
report examined the actions and inactions of Navy leadership respon-
sible for the Navy's investigations of Tailhook '91.
In conducting the second part of our inquiry, we interviewed over
2,900 people who attended Tailhook '91 and obtained documents
and other evidence relating to crimes and misconduct by naval avia-
tors at Tailhook '91.
The symposium aspects of Tailhook '91 were found to be reason-
ably educational and professionally presented. We noted, however,
that the Navy knowingly supported and encouraged the attendance
of as many as 4,000 naval officers despite the fact that at most only
2,100 people— including contractor personnel and other non-Navy
people— actually registered for the professional aspects of the con-
ference, and even fewer actually attended the professional events.
Navy support also included the use of naval aircraft and other vehi-
cles, as well as the use of various administrative personnel to facili-
tate attendance by naval officers. By virtually all accounts, large
numbers of officers attended for the sole purpose of participating in
the 4 'social" aspects of Tailhook '91.
Many attendees viewed the annual conference as a type of "free-
[ / 1
The Tailhook Report
fire zone" wherein they could act indiscriminately and without fear
of censure or retribution in matters of sexual conduct and drunken-
ness. Some of the Navy's most senior officers were knowledgeable
as to the excesses practiced at Tailhook '91 and, by their inaction,
those officers served to condone and even encourage the type of be-
havior that occurred there.
Our investigation disclosed that 83 women and 7 men were as-
saulted during the three days of the convention. Virtually all the
assaults took place in the third-floor area (including the adjoining
patio which continued to be open to the public during the conven-
tion) of the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel where the squadron hospitality
suites were located.
Through the use of detailed interviews and other investigative
techniques, 23 officers were determined to warrant referral to the
Navy for having participated in indecent assaults, and an additional
23 in indecent exposure. In total, 117 officers were implicated in one
or more incidents of indecent assault, indecent exposure, conduct
unbecoming an officer or failure to act in a proper leadership capac-
ity while at Tailhook '91.* Further, 51 individuals were found to
have made false statements to us during our investigation. Evidence
concerning all such matters has been referred to the Navy and/or the
Department of Justice for appropriate action. In this regard, it is
noted that we anticipate further referrals with respect to officers im-
plicated as a result of our continuing investigation into the indecent
assaults. It should also be noted that the number of individuals in-
volved in all types of misconduct or other inappropriate behavior was
more widespread than these figures would suggest. Furthermore,
several hundred other officers were aware of the misconduct and
chose to ignore it.
In this regard, the Navy is being given access to our entire inves-
tigative files so as to allow Navy authorities to determine whether
additional violations of laws or regulations are supported by evi-
dence obtained during our investigation.
Information, to include transcripts of interviews, concerning all
flag officers who attended Tailhook '91 has been provided to the
♦All statistical information contained in this report is based on data completed
through January 31, 1993. Inasmuch as our investigation is continuing with
respect to certain indecent assaults, it is expected that additional individuals
will be interviewed and that further referrals may be made to naval authorities.
[2]
Executive Summary
Office of the Secretary of the Navy for consideration as to any re-
quired remedial action.
Our inquiry was greatly aided by the cooperation of the Secretary
of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of
the Marine Corps.
13)
Section II
Scope and Investigative
Methodology
A . Scope
The scope of our investigation encompassed the following areas:
1 . Indecent assaults*
2. Indecent exposure
3. Conduct unbecoming an officer
4. Dereliction of duty, as well as failure to act in
a proper leadership capacityt
5. False statements and false swearing during the
course of our investigation
*Indecent assault is a crime under Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military
Justice (UCMJ). The elements of the offense are: "(1) That the accused as-
saulted a certain person not the spouse of the accused in a certain manner; (2)
That the acts were done with the intent to gratify the lust or sexual desires of
the accused; and (3) That, under the circumstances, the conduct of the accused
was to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the Armed Forces or was of
a nature to bring discredit upon the Armed Forces." Lesser included offenses
of indecent assault include assault and assault consummated by a battery (Arti-
cle 128, UCMJ), indecent acts (Article 134), and attempts (Article 80).
tFailure to act is punishable as a dereliction of duty under Article 92 of the
UCMJ. The elements of that offense are: "(a) That the accused had certain
duties; (b) That the accused knew or reasonably should have known of the du-
ties; and (c) That the accused was (willfully) (through neglect or culpable inef-
ficiency) derelict in the performance of those duties." A duty may be imposed
by statute, regulation or custom of the Service, and actual knowledge need not
be shown if the individual should have reasonably known of the duties.
[5 ]
The T'ailhook Report
We found it necessary to conduct a comprehensive investigation be-
cause the earlier Naval Investigative Service (NIS) investigation fo-
cused almost exclusively on indecent assaults. That investigation
found that a total of 26 women, 14 of them naval officers, had been
assaulted at Tailhook '91 . Although an NIS interim report dated Feb-
ruary 1992 listed 18 naval officers who were considered to be
suspects or subjects, the NIS final report of investigation, issued in
mid- April 1992, identified only three indecent assault suspects— one
naval officer, one Marine Corps officer and one foreign military ex-
change officer.* In late April 1992, the Commander, NIS, referred
11 specific ''case summaries" to cognizant Navy and Marine Corps
flag officers ". . .for such disposition as [they] deem appropriate."
However, in his memorandum to the Commander in Chief of the
U.S. Pacific Fleet, the Commander, NIS, stated that the allegations
regarding two Navy captains included in the 11 "referrals" were in
one case "unsubstantiated" and, in the other, "uncorroborated."
The Naval Inspector General (IG), after reviewing the NIS inves-
tigative report, but without conducting a comprehensive investiga-
tion of his own, forwarded for further review the names of 32 officers
and one civilian for consideration of administrative sanctions. Six of
these individuals were referred for questionable personal conduct, 6
were referred for standards of conduct issues involving contractor
hospitality suites, 4 were referred for failure to act, and 17 were
referred because they were commanding officers of squadrons which
hosted or contributed to the funding of hospitality suites that featured
lewd entertainment or behavior.
We also received a memorandum from the Navy Judge Advocate
General (JAG) dated July 2, 1992, in which he listed 80 individuals
referred " . . . to the chain of command for appropriate disciplinary
or administrative action." The list of 80 names included some of the
1 1 and 33 names specifically referred to the chain of command by
the NIS and the Naval IG, respectively. The list of 80 also included
56 names which had not previously been mentioned as referrals. In
total, the NIS and the Naval IG identified 95 names which were con-
sidered for referral, t
*The NIS report also contained information regarding a Marine Corps lieutenant
colonel with respect to his possible obstruction of the NIS investigation. In
pursuing this matter, we found insufficient evidence to warrant such a referral.
fThe Navy JAG informed us that the additional names contained in its list of 80
16}
Investigative Methodology
The Naval IG also commented in his report with respect to the
Navy's use of military aircraft to support attendance at Tailhook '91 .
Further, the Naval IG noted that various forms of impropriety such
as instances of indecent exposure and excessive alcohol consumption
were apparent. Neither the NIS nor the Naval IG, however, con-
ducted comprehensive inquiries into those latter areas nor did they
pursue the matter of leadership accountability.
B. Methodology
Due to the large number of witnesses and their geographic disper-
sion, we approached our review on a geographic rather than on a
"lead-by-lead" basis as would normally be done in investigating
crimes such as indecent assault. Our investigation into the events at
Tailhook '91 began 10 months after the actual convention. Witnesses
were scattered literally around the world at Navy and Marine Corps
bases, as well as aboard naval ships. We assembled a task force of
investigators which, after reviewing available information received
from the Navy, developed a detailed plan for use in conducting in-
terviews of attendees and other witnesses.
The task force, consisting of over 40 investigators, conducted in-
terviews at Naval air stations throughout the United States as well as
on four aircraft carriers, including the USS Saratoga while it was
deployed in the Mediterranean Sea, the USS Ranger while deployed
included names provided by NIS as potential suspects in various misconduct.
The Commander, NIS, had prepared referral letters dated June 23, 1992 to 5
flag officers for all of the names on the list of 80. In his letter, the Commander,
NIS, stated, "I have been directed to refer [these individuals] to the chain of
command for appropriate action." The NIS advised that the reason the letters
were never sent was because the Department of Defense (DoD) IG had re-
quested that all criminal or administrative disciplinary actions be held in abey-
ance pending the completion of the DoD IG investigation. Our review of the
NIS and the Naval IG referrals led us to conclude that many of the actions or
inactions cited did not rise to the level of impropriety necessary to warrant a
referral when viewed in the overall context of Tailhook. For example, the list of
80 included the names of many field grade officers who were referred simply
because they had attested to the fact that they had witnessed the gauntlet and
described what they had seen. They were referred presumably for their failure
to take action. Of the 117 referrals we are providing to the Navy for misconduct
at Tailhook '91, only 30 are also included in the Navy and Naval IG referrals.
[7]
The T'ailhook Report
in the Persian Gulf, the USS Nimitz deployed off the western coast
of the United States, and the USS Independence while deployed in
Japan. Interviews were also conducted in Canada, Japan, Europe,
the Middle East and various other locations at which witnesses were
found to be stationed. A total of 26 investigative and 4 administrative
support work years were expended in the effort as of January 1,
1993.
Inasmuch as neither the Navy nor the Tailhook Association main-
tained comprehensive records that reflected the identity of all atten-
dees, we sought to identify witnesses through various other means.
That process included:
1 . Analysis of Navy and Marine Corps flight
records.
2. Review of Hilton Hotel guest registers per-
taining to rooms reserved by the Tailhook
Association.
3. List of approximately 1,680 named registrants
furnished to us by the Tailhook Association.*
4. Questionnaires completed by officers and
civlian employees at the request of the Navy,
Marine Corps and the Air Force.
5. Information garnered through interviews of
other witnesses.
6. Information received through the Department
of Defense Hotline or in anonymous letters sent
directly to our Tailhook task force.
*Tailhook Association records reflect the names of approximately 1 ,680 regis-
trants. The Association contends that an additional 500 people registered while
at Tailhook '91 but the Association failed to record the names of those individ-
uals. Of the 1,680 named registrants, approximately 900 were active duty or
Reserve officers. The remaining attendees consisted of contractor personnel,
Government civilian employees, retired officers and members of the general
public.
18]
Investigative Methodology
7. Information developed through the NIS and the
Naval IG investigation.
Although the Tailhook Association reserved approximately 1,000
rooms at the Hilton, that number did not come close to accommo-
dating the estimated 4,000 officers that attended Tailhook '91. Thus,
our attempts to identify all attendees were hampered by the fact that
there were no records for hundreds of officers who slept on the floor
of squadron hospitality suites or in rooms occupied by other officers.
Further, our investigation disclosed that attendees stayed at hotels
throughout the Las Vegas area, while others stayed at the homes of
local friends or relatives. Still others stayed in motor homes or sim-
ply slept in vehicles driven by officers from such locations as San
Diego and El Toro, California. Due to the proximity between Naval
Air Stations in California and Las Vegas, hundreds of officers drove
their personal vehicles to Tailhook '91.
During the course of our investigation we interviewed* a total of
2,91 1 people. Tables 1 and 2 depict the demographics of those inter-
viewed.
In addition to the above cited interviews, we conducted 314 rein-
ter views involving critical witnesses.
We also note that, as of January 31, 1993, more than 1,500 ad-
Table 1
All Interviewees by Affiliation
United States Navy (Male)
2,021
Civilian (Female)
305
United States Marine Corps
298
Civilian (Male)
123
United States Navy (Female)
84
United States Air Force (Male)
63
United States Air Force (Female)
9
Other Male
8
Total Interviewees:
2,911
*Of the 2,911 people interviewed, 108 were interviewed telephonically rather
than in person.
[9]
The Tailhook Report
Table 2
Navy and Marine Corps Officer Interviewees by
Rank
Ensign (Navy)/2nd Lieutenant (Marine Corp) 7 1
Lieutenant, Ji;. Grade (Navy)/
1 st Lieutenant (Marine Corp) 1 ,232
Lieutenant (Navy)/Captain (Marine Corp) 352
Lt. Commander (Navy)/Major (Marine Corp) 239
Captain (Navy)/Colonel (Marine Corp) 92
Admiral (Navy)/General (Marine Corp) 37
Admiral (Navy)/General (Marine Corp) Ret. 43
*Note Marine Corp and Navy ranks are grouped by equivalent
ranks for each service.
ditional individuals are either known or believed to have attended
Tailhook '91 . Those individuals were not interviewed either because
(1) they refused to discuss details of Tailhook '91 with us,* (2) we
were unsuccessful in contacting them during the investigation, or (3)
their names came up only on an incidental basis and no information
was developed that indicated an interview was warranted.
Throughout the interview process, we continued to identify new
victims, witnesses and suspects. The need to fully address these
emerging leads contributed to the time needed to complete the inves-
tigation.
Finally, we note our belief that a substantial number of other,
unidentified individuals attended Tailhook '91. Neither the Tailhook
Association nor the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel attempted in any way to
limit access to the third floor area. Thus, for example, several wit-
nesses cited the presence of female attendees who could not be spe-
cifically identified or otherwise located. Similarly, many retired and
Reserve officers are believed to have attended who were not identi-
fied during our investigation. In an effort to identify possible
witnesses, we requested that local newspapers and other media pub-
licize the task force presence in their area, noting our local and head-
quarters telephone numbers and the fact that we welcomed contact
*The category includes certain nonmilitary attendees, as well as military atten-
dees who invoked their rights against self-incrimination.
[ io ]
Investigative Methodology
with any attendees or anyone else having information concerning
Tailhook '91. The articles resulted in several telephone calls to the
task force, thereby identifying additional witnesses.
In addition to conducting witness, victim and suspect interviews,
the task force used a full range of other investigative techniques,
some of which are described below.
1. Photographs of Officer Interviewees. As part of our inter-
view process, we photographed military officers and later
used those photographs to develop groups of pictures
needed to assist victims and witnesses in identifying spe-
cific individuals knowledgeable of the events at Tailhook
'91.
2. Polygraphs. This technique was used on 34 occasions, in
accordance with DoD Directives regulating the use of
polygraphs.* Officers taking the polygraph examination ex-
ecuted signed waivers indicating they consented to the ex-
amination and had been fully apprised of their legal rights
prior to the test. Findings disclosed that 14 of the tests in-
dicated the officer was nondeceptive, 12 indicated decep-
tion, and 8 were inconclusive or no opinion was rendered
by the polygraph examiner, t Twelve of the officers made
admissions to the issues under investigation as a result of
the polygraph examination.
3. Subpoenas. A total of 19 DoD IG subpoenas were issued in
support of our investigation. Twelve of those subpoenas
related to photographic evidence believed to be in the pos-
session of the subpoenaed party. The remainder of the sub-
poenas related to business records and other documentary
evidence relevant to the investigation.
4. Undercover Operations. This technique was used in an ef-
fort to further corroborate information concerning a specific
*DoD Directive 5210.48 and DoD Regulation 5210.48R.
t" Inconclusive" indicates that a polygraph examination was conducted, how-
ever, the examiner could not reach a conclusive opinion. "No opinion" indi-
cates that the examination was terminated, either by the examiner or examinee,
before completion.
t // ]
The Tailhook Report
indecent assault. The operation was successful in obtaining
additional corroboration.
5. Consensual Monitoring. Four conversations were recorded
with the consent of one of the parties, in accordance with
DoD Directive.* The conversations related to knowledge of
indecent assaujt activity in the gauntlet and other criminal
activities.
6. Immunity. Throughout the investigation, we considered
whether individuals suspected of involvement in criminal
behavior at Tailhook '91 should be offered immunity in ex-
change for other information of specific concern to the task
force. In each instance, a "proffer" t was required. A total
of 15 suspects or their attorneys engaged in immunity dis-
cussions with us and 3 submitted proffers. We requested
and received two grants of immunity from naval authorities
in regard to the matter.
7. Computer Analysis. Due to the enormous volume of infor-
mation collected, the use of computer data bases played a
significant role in recording and cataloging witness state-
ments and other evidence.
8. "Candid" Photographs. We obtained more than 800 pho-
tographs during the investigative process. The photographs
range from simple scenes depicting people conversing on
the pool patio to pictures of indecent exposure and various
other activities that could be characterized as conduct un-
becoming an officer. In virtually every instance in which
activity relevant to the investigation was shown, we were
able to identify those individuals represented in the photo-
graphs. In every case of male indecent exposure, the indi-
viduals involved were found to be Navy or Marine Corps
*DoD Direction 5200.24.
tin the context of a grant of immunity, a proffer is a written offer from the
suspect or the suspect's attorney, to the Government, of what the individual
would say if that individual were to be granted immunity from prosecution. The
proffer cannot be used as evidence in any subsequent prosecution.
[ 12 ]
Investigative Methodology
officers. In every case of indecent exposure depicting
women, the individuals were found to be civilians.
9. Other. In addition to the above techniques, the task force
used various other accepted law enforcement tools such as
surveillance, confidential sources of information and con-
sent searches.
[ 1 3 1
Section III
The Tailhook Association
A. Background
As described in our September 1992 report, the Tailhook Associa-
tion is a private organization composed of active duty, Reserve and
retired Navy and Marine Corps aviators, Defense contractors and
others. The annual Tailhook Symposium began as a reunion of naval
aviators in 1956. In 1963, the annual reunion moved from San Diego
to Las Vegas, where it was expanded to include a number of seminar
sessions relating to naval aviation, as well as other professional de-
velopment activities.
We questioned attendees about the scheduled symposium events
and reviewed material, including videotapes, taken throughout the
symposium. A copy of the agenda for Tailhook '91 is in Appendix
A. From all reports and appearances, the symposium events were
professionally presented and of educational value to people involved
in naval aviation. No instances of impropriety were found to have
occurred at official symposium functions or in the exhibit area.
In addition to the educational forums, the Association, in con-
junction with various Defense contractors, hosted formal dinners,
lunches and various sporting events (a golf outing and a 5-kilometer
run) during the convention. One of the dinners centered around the
Association's annual presentation of awards to aviators who had dis-
tinguished themselves in various aspects of naval aviation. On Friday
and Saturday nights, the dinners featured speakers of interest to the
Association's members. The Chief of Naval Operations and the Sec-
retary of the Navy were the respective speakers at the two dinners at
Tailhook '91 . As with the educational events, we found no instances
of impropriety at any of the scheduled functions.
[ 15 1
The Tailhook Report
B. Professional
Aspects ofTailhook '91
In order to provide the Tailhook Association and the Navy the op-
portunity to present their views of the professional aspects of Tail-
hook '91 , we invited them to provide formal comment for use in this
report. Both organisations availed themselves of that opportunity
and submitted brief discussion papers (Appendices B and C, respec-
tively).
The single, most talked about topic with regard to the Tailhook
'91 formal agenda was the Flag Panel. That event attracted more
attendees than any other symposium function and did not require
registration as a symposium attendee. Contrary to some media ac-
counts, we found that the Flag Panel was conducted in a responsible
and professional fashion. The Flag Panel was comprised of eight
Navy admirals and one Marine Corps general. Officers attending the
event addressed a variety of questions to members of the Flag Panel
who responded in a generally straightforward manner.
Questions relating to the possibility of women flying combat air-
craft elicited strong reactions from attendees. A female officer asked
the panel whether women would be allowed to fly aircraft in combat.
Her question drew a slight reaction from some members of the au-
dience in recognition that this was a sensitive issue. Vice Admiral
(VADM) Richard M. Dunleavy, who fielded the question and first
displayed some unease in addressing the issue, responded by saying
that the Navy would do as Congress directed, indicating that women
could be flying aircraft in combat within a year thereafter.
Witnesses told us that VADM Dunleavy 's response was not ac-
ceptable to either side in the argument. Those who supported the
concept of women in combat felt that VADM Dunleavy had not
shown sufficient support for their position, whereas those attendees
who rejected the proposed role of women in combat believed that
VADM Dunleavy, as Assistant Chief of Naval Operations (Air War-
fare), had not properly defended the interests of male aviators. One
male officer in the audience stood up and forcibly stated his personal
objections to women in combat. In response to the officer's state-
ment, the audience erupted into loud cheers and applause.
Although some witnesses opined that the "mood" of the atten-
dees changed for the worse as a result of those exchanges, we found
insufficient evidence to support the theory that male officers later
[16]
The Tailhook Association
turned their frustrations over this policy matter into violent acts
against women on the third floor.*
Perhaps most important in this discussion is that, although the
Flag Panel drew the largest crowd of any symposium function, the
crowd was estimated to have been no more than 1 ,500 to 1 ,600 peo-
ple, including contractor and civilian personnel. That is especially
telling when compared with the fact that, even by conservative esti-
mates, overall attendance at Tailhook '91 was placed at more than
4,000 people. Our investigation disclosed the vast majority of atten-
dees did not register for the conference and did not attend sym-
posium functions. Rather, many officers merely attended the social
aspects of Tailhook. Parties were held on the third floor, where vir-
tually all the assaults and most other improprieties occurred. It is
especially pertinent to note that of the 117 officers found to be in-
volved in misconduct, t only 26 appeared as named registrants on the
Tailhook Association list of symposium attendees.
C. Relationship Between the Navy
and the Tailhook Association
The Tailhook Association has depended on substantial support from
the Navy and from contractors doing business with the Navy. Senior
aviation leaders told us they viewed the Association as an integral
part of naval aviation. Thus, they felt justified in lending Navy sup-
port required by the Association, especially with regard to the annual
symposium.
The relationship between the Navy and the Tailhook Association
dates back to the first Tailhook reunion. Historically, Tailhook As-
sociation membership has been comprised of naval aviators and
those with interests in or otherwise associated with naval aviation.
Active and retired naval aviators serve on the Association's Board of
Directors and a senior naval aviator, usually stationed at Naval Air
*However, one female aviator reported that, immediately following the Flag
Panel, she was verbally harassed by male aviators who expressed to her their
belief that women should not be employed in naval aviation. They also accused
her of having sexual relations with senior officers while deployed on carrier
assignment.
tlncludes indecent assault, indecent exposure, conduct unbecoming an officer
and failure to act in a proper leadership capacity.
[ 17 1
The Tailhook Report
Station (NAS) Miramar, is normally appointed as the Association's
President. Other Association leadership positions such as Vice Pres-
ident, Secretary and Treasurer are generally held by active duty, Re-
serve, or retired aviators. The Tailhook Association advised us that,
as of August 1992, there were 15,479 individual and 10 corporate
members.*
The Navy support of the Tailhook Association is apparent in the
Association's former occupancy of Government-owned office space
located at NAS Miramar. The Association headquarters occupied
2,500 square feet of office space at NAS Miramar on a rent-free basis
from July 1984 to December 1987 and again from May 1990 until
December 1991. The rent-free arrangement was severed when the
Secretary of the Navy withdrew Navy support for the Association in
October 1991. The decision resulted from public disclosures of mis-
conduct by naval officers at Tailhook '91. The Association is cur-
rently located in private office space in the San Diego area. Plans to
construct a Tailhook Association headquarters building funded by
the Association at NAS Miramar are currently being held in abey-
ance.
The Navy authorized and supplied transportation by military air-
craft in support of Tailhook '91. According to the Naval Air Logis-
tics Office (NALO), the aircraft, primarily C-9s, transported approx-
imately 1,730 attendees to and from Las Vegas. The NALO advised
us that 37 aircraft missions were flown, including 17 missions solely
dedicated to Tailhook and 20 missions that had been combined with
other, non-Tailhook requirements. Those flights originated at various
military air bases throughout the United States. The NALO reported
that the missions required approximately 325 flight hours. We deter-
mined this resulted in a cost of nearly $400,000 for fuel and contract
maintenance. t Other transport aircraft, as well as small training
planes and fighter jets, were used by some officers as transportation
to Las Vegas. In at least one instance, officers rented a private plane
and charged the cost to the Navy under the guise of a "training"
flight.
The Naval IG investigation concluded that subordinate commands
*Corporate membership numbered 52 just prior to Tailhook '91 but declined
dramatically over the ensuing year as a result of adverse publicity arising from
Tailhook '91.
tThe costs cited do not include pay and allowances for flight crews and local
maintenance expenses.
[ 18]
The Tailhook Association
believed that Navy guidelines, as well as current and historical in-
structions from the NALO regarding Tailhook technically permitted
the use of aircraft in all cases where an officer was traveling on travel
orders, whether those orders were funded or unfunded.* Nonethe-
less, the Naval IG properly criticized the Navy for allowing such
widespread use and the apparent and perceived abuses that accom-
panied that use. Our investigation also disclosed many instances in
which attendees were transported to Tailhook '91 by C-9 aircraft
despite the fact that they had been issued no orders whatsoever.
Since 1974, the Navy has transported officers and even civilian
staff, spouses and friends to Tailhook conventions using Navy air-
craft. An exception occurred in 1975, after a Government Account-
ing Office inquiry criticized the Navy for failing to adequately
control and oversee the use of such flights. t The Secretary of the
Navy denied attendees the use of military aircraft for Tailhook pur-
poses. Attendance at that year's convention was greatly diminished
and use of military aircraft in support of Tailhook resumed in 1976.
Our investigation disclosed that, in addition to military aircraft,
other official vehicles such as buses and vans were used to transport
attendees to Las Vegas and that enlisted personnel were occasionally
the drivers of those vehicles.
To our knowledge, fewer than 10 of the Navy or Marine Corps
officers who attended Tailhook '91 were required to take annual
leave for that purpose. Additionally, countless duty hours were spent
by suite administrators and Association committee members during
the months prior to the convention in preparation for the 3 -day event.
The Association assumed most of the costs relating to transpor-
tation, accommodations and, in some instances, per diem for ap-
proximately 63 committee members, 50 of whom were active duty
or Reserve officers. To the best of our knowledge, the Navy did not
require active duty officers to take annual leave for the day or two
prior to the symposium opening to attend meetings in preparation for
the convention.
The symposium portion of the convention was supported in large
*The topic of aircraft use was addressed by the Naval IG in his report on Tail-
hook dated April 29, 1992. Directives used by the Naval IG in determining the
propriety of operational support airlift use in support of Tailhook included DoD
Directives 4500.43 and 4515. 13-R and OPNAVINST 4630.25B and 4631. 2B.
fComptroller General Report titled Alleged Use of Military Aircraft for Other
Than Official Purposes-DoD, Report Number B- 1568 19 dated September 1975.
[ 19]
The Tailhook Report
part by the Navy. Although various Defense contractors also partic-
ipated as presenters in some of the educational seminars, the Navy
was the primary source of seminar speakers and played an integral
role in determining the agenda for each year's symposium. The Navy
provided funded orders for seminar speakers and military personnel
who were given awards at the symposium. We found no evidence of
any effort by the Navy to require actual registration for the sympo-
sium in order to attend the social functions at Tailhook.
[20]
Section IV
Witness and Navy
Cooperation
We found the Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations
and the Commandant of the Marine Corps were fully supportive of
our efforts and went to all necessary lengths to ensure that our logis-
tical and scheduling needs were met. The Navy also assisted in iden-
tifying Tailhook attendees and adjusting flight and training schedules
where necessary to make officers available for interview. Perhaps
most important was the Navy's designation of "points of contact"
(POCs) to work with us in scheduling interviews and to act as facil-
itators in solving any and all logictical problems. The POCs, gener-
ally officers of the rank of commander or captain, accomplished all
required tasks, including arranging the transportation of our agents
onto various aircraft carriers, helping to identify and locate retired
officers and, in general, helping to facilitate our interviews.
In contrast to the organizational cooperation described above, we
found a wide variance in the level of cooperation shown by aviation
officers. Most of the officers interviewed responded in a serious and
cooperative fashion. Other officers were far less cooperative and at-
tempted to limit their responses so as to reveal only minimal infor-
mation. Many officers refused to offer information pertinent to the
investigation unless asked very specific questions. For example, a
common tactic taken by many officers in response to general ques-
tioning was to answer that they simply had no knowledge of the
subject. However, we experienced a number of situations in which
facts disclosed later in the investigation suggested that many of the
same individuals did indeed have pertinent knowledge or informa-
tion. A typical response to questions posed in followup interviews
was that the investigator had not asked the "right" question. It is
our belief that several hundred of the 2,384 naval officers we inter-
viewed responded in that fashion.
The evidence revealed that other officers deliberately provided
false information to us. Some squadron members appeared to main-
[ 21 ]
The Tailhook Report
tain unified responses that were often contradicted by the testimony
of witnesses not assigned to those squadrons. Similarly, individual
officers specifically lied to us about their activities unless directly
confronted with conflicting evidence. In one instance, a Navy lieu-
tenant repeatedly denied that he indecently exposed himself. After
he was shown a photograph clearly depicting him publicly exposing
himself at Tailhook '91, the officer told us he had lied because he
did not know that we had a picture and his career was worth the risk
of being caught in a lie.
A second officer, a Marine lieutenant colonel, lied to us about his
own improper activities, as well as those of his squadron mates. The
same officer had previously alleged to us that he had seen Lieutenant
(LT) Paula Coughlin seeking souvenirs in the Rhino suite on the
morning after her assault. The officer later retracted the allegation
after he was found to have supplied other false information to our
investigators.
In many instances, we were able to overcome attempts to mislead
our investigators. In many others, however, we were not. Collective
"stonewalling" significantly increased the difficulty of the investi-
gation and adversely affected our ability to identify many of those
officers who had committed assaults. In the absence of specific con-
flicting testimony or physical evidence, an individual officer's state-
ment that he or she neither saw nor heard of anything improper
occurring at Tailhook '91 had to be accepted at face value.
Our investigators encountered repeated and deliberate attempts to
obstruct their efforts. For instance, some witnesses who had been
identified as having taken photographs at Tailhook '91 told us that
they had misplaced or destroyed all such photographs. However,
when these individuals were presented with a DoD IG subpoena, in
most cases these "lost" photographs were produced. One Marine
Corps aviator's commanding officer (CO) informed us that, after the
aviator was interviewed, he overheard the officer telephone other
aviators and tell them what they should and should not say to inves-
tigators relating to improper activity engaged in at Tailhook '91. A
few officers reported the existence of a "Lieutenants' Protective As-
sociation (LPA)" and a "Junior Officers' Protective Association
(JOPA)." The LPA and JOPA were described as being an allegiance
among officers. One officer told us that, according to LPA and JOPA
"rules," a junior officer will not "give up" another junior officer
just because he has done "something stupid."
Naval aviators are typically known by their nicknames or "call
[22]
Witness and Navy Cooperation
signs." In one instance, aviators in a squadron denied they were
known by call signs. However, we later learned that they did, in fact,
use call signs. We strongly suspect that the initial denial by these
officers was intended to conceal their involvement with a woman
who was indecently assaulted in the gauntlet and that these aviators
were aware that the woman knew them only by their respective call
signs. In fact, they had earlier given her a poster autographed with
their call signs.
In situations in which the interviewee was considered to be a sus-
pect or subject of criminal or other improper activity, we advised
them of their rights under Article 31, UCMJ, and we respected their
right to seek legal counsel and afforded them the opportunity to con-
sult with an attorney. In every location where we conducted inter-
views, defense counsel was immediately available to interviewees
through the Naval Legal Services Office (NLSO).
[23]
Section V
Squadron Hospitality
Suites
A. Background
The primary venue for social activity at Tailhook '91 was the squad-
ron hospitality suites. The majority of the Navy and Marine Corps
officers who attended Tailhook '91 told us they did so for two pri-
mary reasons: to take advantage of the professional symposium and
to socialize with other aviators. The socialization centered around
the third floor squadron hospitality suites.
In the early years of Tailhook the conventions revolved around
social gatherings and parties held in various hospitality suites that
were funded and operated by Defense contractors. Those suites of-
fered free food and beverages to all Tailhook attendees. The growth
in the number of contractor suites in the early 1970s is attributed to
efforts of the Tailhook Association to increase the number of con-
tractor or corporate sponsors.
Hospitality suites continued to be sponsored by contractors until
the Association notified its corporate members in the late 1970s that,
as a result of existing rules and DoD regulations* governing the re-
lationship between contractors and DoD employees (both civilian
and military), this practice would no longer be sanctioned by the
Association. Those rules and regulations placed strict limits on the
receipt by DoD employees of gratuities, including liquor and enter-
tainment. They were intended to deter military and civilian employ-
ees from providing favorable treatment to contractors in return for
gratuities. Tailhook Association officers told us that the Directive
was the primary reason for the shift from contractor-sponsored hos-
pitality suites to squadron sponsorship of the suites. As one Associ-
ation employee opined, contractors sponsored the suites to facilitate
*DoD Directive 5500.7, dated May 6, 1987, superseding the previous DoD
Directive dated January 19, 1977.
[ 25 1
The Tailhook Report
meeting key military personnel in the naval aviation community.
Contractors felt such meetings were important and would encourage
those personnel to "like the contractors when it came time to buy
stuff." He went on to say that the practice ended only when "Con-
gress outlawed it." We were further told by Captain (CAPT) Fred-
eric G. Ludwig, Jr., President of the Tailhook Association during
Tailhook '91, that the Association began to host what has become
known as the "President's Dinner" as a legitimate means of allow-
ing the senior naval leadership to socialize with the contractors.*
According to the Executive Director of the Association, the U.S.
Navy Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX-4)t was the first squad-
ron to host a hospitality suite after issuance of the new DoD rules
and regulations. In the ensuing years, other naval squadrons and
commands also sponsored suites by collecting funds from squadron
members to defray the operating costs of such suites. Witnesses
opined that with the increase in squadron hospitality suites, compet-
itiveness emerged among the squadrons to outdo one another with
respect to having the most popular suite. One naval officer told us it
was that mentality that led to excessive consumption of alcohol and
an increase in rowdy, boisterous behavior at the conventions. Over
the years, the officer witnessed drunkenness, strippers, public nudity
and consensual public sex acts that he attributed to competition
among officers in various squadrons.
By many accounts, the increase in rowdy and improper behavior
culminated at Tailhook '85. As a result of such behavior, the Asso-
ciation received a number of complaints and subsequently held a
special Board of Directors meeting on September 26, 1985, to ad-
dress those complaints. One complaint from a Tailhook board mem-
ber and squadron CO to the Tailhook Association read:
As a member of the board and as a professional avia-
tor I feel that several issues should be reviewed and
*The President's Dinner, at which the Chief of Naval Operations was the fea-
tured speaker, was held on Friday, September 6, 1991. Attendees included 250
industry and military dignitaries.
tNaval aviation squadrons are commonly referred to by their alphanumeric des-
ignations. The letters designate the type of squadron. For instance, "V" indi-
cates fixed-wing aircraft and "H" indicates helicopter. The numbers represent
a particular squadron. The glossary at Appendix D defines the alphanumeric
squadron designations and Naval command acronyms referenced in this report.
[26]
Squadron Hospitality Suites
corrected by the Association prior to Hook '86. I
viewed with disdain the conduct, or better put, the
misconduct of several officers and a lack of command
attention which resulted in damage and imprudent ac-
tion.
The encouragement of drinking contests, the con-
cept of having to drink 15 drinks to win a headband
and other related activities produced walking zombies
that were viewed by the general public and detracted
from the Association/USN integrity.
Damage to the Hilton should not be tolerated and
restitution should be made by the command in charge
of the suite.
Dancing girls performing lurid sexual acts on Na-
val aviators in public would make prime conversation
for the media.
The minutes of the special board meeting identified the most perva-
sive problems in the suites to be excessive drinking and lewd behav-
ior and reported possible solutions for those suite-related problems.
Those solutions included limiting the number of suites, black-listing
"bad" suites, issuing warnings to the COs of squadrons causing
problems and/or the elimination of all suites for one year. The min-
utes further reflected the following annotation:
RADM Service feels that unless these problems or
behavior are solved he will not be able to support Tail-
hook, which would eliminate the use of the C-9s from
AIRPAC Commands. He stated that VADM Martin
(OP-5) has similar feeling.*
On October 15, 1985, another board meeting was held. Despite the
concerns noted at the previous meeting, the minutes reflected that
the board rejected all solutions discussed at the first board meeting.
Instead, the minutes indicated that the board opted for the following:
*Rear Admiral (RADM) James Service, at the time of Tailhook '85, was the
Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. VADM Edward H. Martin, at
the time of Tailhook '85, was the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Air
Warfare.
[ 27]
The Tailhook Report
Rules to all COs prior to Vegas. Will not close suites
during symposiums, but will keep them low key.
Duty officers in all suites— adult supervision.
During the course of our investigation, we were informed by numer-
ous attendees that many of the problems relating to the suites and
highlighted at Tailhook '85 were not resolved. Excessive drinking,
public nudity and vario*us forms of entertainment (such as perform-
ances by strippers) in the hospitality suites continued through the
years, including Tailhook '91. Furthermore, the minutes of the As-
sociation's Board of Directors meeting of January 11, 1989, re-
flected the following concerns regarding behavior at Tailhook '88:
Due to the large amount of "Vegas Locals" under the
age of 21 who showed up in the suite area [name de-
leted] suggest we check our liability to make sure we
have the maximum protection to cover the underage
and the behavior of some of our participants.
Prior to Tailhook '91, CAPT Ludwig issued separate letters directed
to the respective hospitality suite squadron commanders and hospi-
tality suite coordinators. Both letters addressed issues regarding con-
duct and behavior in and around the hospitality suites and warned
against such things as "gang mentality," underage drinking and
damage to Hilton property. When asked about the letters, CAPT
Ludwig told us, "That has been the letter for several years, and I
don't know exactly when it first went in there. But my sense of this
is that it stemmed from what took place in '85." He went on to say,
"I felt that I understood what it was all about, and I felt that I un-
derstood it to mean what took place in '85, which is a group getting
totally blown away and running around destroying the hotel. That is
my sense of gang mentality."
Although our investigation centered on misconduct occurring at
Tailhook '91, we also documented various instances of misconduct
that took place in the suites during the previous years. The third-
floor hospitality suites became the locale for the most notorious as-
pects of each year's convention.
B. Tailhook '91
The Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, one of the largest hotels in the city, is
a 30-story "Y" -shaped structure with approximately 3,000 guest
[28]
Squadron Hospitality Suites
rooms and suites, several restaurants, a large gambling casino, shop-
ping arcade and convention area.
The Tailhook Association reserved approximately 1,000 guest
rooms for Tailhook '91 attendees. Most of the misconduct discussed
in this report occurred in or around the central and east tower hospi-
tality suites located on the third floor. A number of the suites on the
southern side of the third floor east tower open to a large patio area
that has a pool, sunbathing deck, snack bar and shops. The pool
patio, as it is generally referred to, gives the appearance of being on
ground level. It is actually situated on the roof of the casino area and
on the same level as the third-floor guest rooms. Some of the suites
on the northern side of the third-floor east wing also open onto a
patio area that is much smaller than the pool patio. Other suites on
that side of the third-floor east tower are accessible only through the
inside hallway. Those rooms have windows overlooking a parking
lot three stories below.
There were 22 hospitality suites on the third floor of the Las Vegas
Hilton during Tailhook '91. The same location within the hotel had
been used by the Tailhook convention for several years.
Eleven of the suites* were adjacent to the pool patio deck level of
the hotel and six suites t were located across the third-floor hallway.
These 17 suites were bi-level— the upper section contained a bath-
room and sleeping area, and the lower level a living room. The levels
were separated by railings with the upper level two steps above the
lower level. Access was gained through the third-floor hallway on the
upper level and through sliding glass doors on the lower level that
opened either onto the pool/patio deck or a small terrace. The re-
maining five suites:]: were single level, and access could be gained
only through the third-floor hallway. The size of the suites varied
depending on location and some suites adjoined other suites. Suite
coordinators told us that, prior to the start of the convention, they
either removed or rearranged furniture in the suites to maximize the
available space.
Of the 22 hospitality suites, 19 were associated with Navy and
Marine Corps squadrons and 3 were associated with Navy aviation
training commands, schools or centers. § More specifically, 17 suites
*Rooms 308, 307, 306, 305, 304, 303, 302, 357, 356, 355, and 354.
tRooms 310, 315, 316, 318, 319, and 320.
JRooms 319, 360, 364, 371, and 373.
§Hereafter, all hosting commands or units will be referred to as squadrons.
[ 29 ]
The Tailhook Report
were associated with Navy squadrons, 4 with Marine Corps squad-
rons, and 1 was hosted by former members of a deactivated Marine
Corps squadron. Twenty of the squadrons were from naval bases
located on the west coast of the United States and one each from the
east and gulf coasts. Documentation revealed there were 24 hospital-
ity suites hosted by various squadrons at Tailhook '90, many of
which also sponsored suites at Tailhook '91.
According to the Tailhook Association, it "brokered" the suites
with the Hilton on behalf of the respective hosting squadrons. Each
squadron was directly responsible to the Hilton for paying suite
rental charges and any damage occurring in its suite. CAPT Ludwig
told us there was a procedure established to ensure that Tailhook
committee members checked and inspected the suites and adjacent
areas for damage prior to and after the convention. The Association
was liable for damage to the common areas of the Hilton. He re-
ported that the total damage bill for Tailhook '91 was approximately
$23,000. Of that figure, $18,000 was for the installation of new car-
peting on the third floor as a result of cigarette burns and drink
stains. For the most part, the remaining damage occurred in the
squadron hospitality suites, including one suite that was vandalized.
Regarding security in the hospitality suites, one Association com-
mittee coordinator informed us that, although the Hilton and not the
Association was responsible for security on the third floor of the
hotel, the squadron duty officers in the respective suites were ex-
pected to maintain order and prevent any damages.* During the
course of our investigation, squadron COs and executive officers
(XOs) explained that prior to Tailhook '91 they provided specific
guidance to attending squadron members concerning behavior, con-
duct, damage to the suite and the responsibilities of the duty officers.
The COs and coordinators gave us various reasons for hosting a
suite. Some suites such as the Fighter Squadron 126 were set up for
the sole purpose of establishing a place for squadron members and
their guests to meet and relax while at Tailhook. Other suites were
administered to highlight the mission of a particular squadron or
command, such as the Commander, Naval Air Reserve Force suite,
which focused on attracting naval aviators into the Navy aviation
reserve program. Finally there were suites organized to provide en-
*The issue of overall security responsibilities is discussed in Section IX of the
report.
[30]
Squadron Hospitality Suites
tertainment. Those suites featured activities as diverse as disk jock-
eys playing music for dancing; leg shaving;* and performances by
strippers. Two suites featured phallic drink dispensers. One suite,
Marine Corps Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, featured a mural
of a rhinoceros to which was affixed a dildo rigged by squadron
members to dispense an alcoholic drink. The other suite, hosted by
Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron featured a statue of a
''green knight" which also dispensed alcoholic drinks through a
phallus, t
Members of the VA-128 squadron reportedly passed out business
card-size "invitations" to people inviting them to visit the VA-128
hospitality suite in room 307. The "invitation" included a sexual
double-entendre and encouraged people to visit the suite ". . .for
an evening of imbibing, chicanery, and debauchery. "$
Our investigation determined that, for the most part, the hospital-
ity suites were financed by individual assessments paid by attending
squadron members. By most accounts, the assessment were volun-
tary and not considered excessive. In certain instances, the hosting
squadron supplemented the funds by selling memorabilia or through
other activities. Examples of suite financing range from $1,680 col-
lected through individual assessments from the 24 officers of Fighter
Squadron 1 who attended to the $19,000§ in available funding to
support the Chief of Naval Air Training suite.
Witnesses reported that the suites had two things in common: the
serving of alcohol and lengthy hours of operation. The hours in-
*This activity occurred on the third floor during Tailhook '91 and involved the
shaving of women's legs and pubic area by male aviators.
tVMFA(AW)-121 is known as the Green Knight squadron. VMFP-3, known as
the Rhino squadron decommissioned prior to Tailhook '91, but nonetheless for-
mer members of the unit hosted a suite.
^Publisher's Note: The full text of the "invitation" was: "A-6 Tailhookers All-
Weather Attack . . . 'We stay up longer . . . and deliver Bigger Loads/ Please
join the Intruders for an evening of imbibing, chicanery, & debauchery. Las
Vegas Hilton Suite 307." The invitation was widely distributed by A-6 avia-
tors. Copies were handed out at local colleges as well as throughout the hotel
area.
§Of that amount, $5,000 was the balance of funds left over from Tailhook '90
and the additional $14,000 was collected in individual assessments of $35 from
each of the approximately 400 attending CNATRA members.
[ 3 1 1
The Tailhook Report
eluded the afternoon, evening and early morning hours of Thursday,
Friday, and Saturday until early Sunday morning. Beer was served
in every suite and 17 suites served mixed or "specialty" alcoholic
drinks. It was common practice in the suites to provide alcohol free
of charge to attending squadron members, their guests and any other
visitors to the suite. The hosting squadron of one suite spent up to
$8,500 for the purchase of alcoholic beverages.
Records reflected that the 22 hospitality suites spent a total of
$33,500* on alcoholic beverages. However, this figure is not entirely
accurate inasmuch as witnesses informed us that, as the initial supply
of alcohol ran out, additional alcohol and beer were purchased using
supplemental funds collected in Las Vegas from squadron attendees.
In one case, squadron members' credit cards were collected and used
to pay for additional liquor. A Las Vegas beer distributor stated he
delivered 271 kegs, equating to 4,200 gallons of beer, to the suites
over the course of the weekend. The total cost of the beer to the
squadrons was $12,000. That figure does not include the cost of the
97 kegs of beer the Association ordered for consumption in the ex-
hibition area.
One Navy commander compared the general conduct and con-
sumption of alcohol in the suites to a "cruise party." The officer
stated:
Well, I don't think it's any secret that in times past,
after we've been at sea for a long time and we've gone
into port for the first time in some amount of time at
sea, that we— that, traditionally, Navy aviation sets
up an admin, suite, what we call an admin, suite in a
hotel. And this is normally a common suite where
guys can meet. It's kind of our living room ashore for
a brief period of time.
A lot of times it seems to serve two functions: It's
one place where we can all congregate, and at other
times it's a place of pretty — some good parties. You
know, when I say the word "party," I mean some-
what similar— well, better not say similar— somewhat
along the lines of what was happening up at Tailhook,
not so much with nudity or women, that's usually not
*The figure does not include purchases of alcohol by two of the suites because
their records for those purchases were not retained.
[32 ]
Squadron Hospitality Suites
the case, but certainly a place to sit around and drink
beer.
Well, this tradition of doing this on cruise is ex-
actly what the suite thing at Tailhook is. It's the same
thing. There's no difference, really, between the two,
in terms of that, though Tailhook definitely is a lot
rowdier than most of the parties on cruise get.
Evidence indicates that many officers consumed excessive amounts
of alcohol during Tailhook '91. This may have been a contributing
factor in the incidence of misconduct and other inappropriate behav-
ior. The excessive consumption of alcohol at Tailhook '91 should be
considered in light of two instructions issued by the Secretary of the
Navy.
The Secretary's instruction on Military Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Prevention and Control (SECNAVINST 5300. 28B), issued in July
1990, defines alcohol abuse as the use of alcohol "to an extent that
it has an adverse effect on performance, conduct, discipline, or mis-
sion effectiveness, and/or the user's health, behavior, family or com-
munity." The Secretary's instruction on Alcohol Abuse and Drunk
Driving (SECNAVINST 5300.29), issued in April 1985, discusses
three manifestations of alcohol abuse, including "public inebriation
(i.e., 'drunken sailor') and its consequences. Brawls, public dis-
credit to military service and injuries and deaths resulting from in-
toxicated driving are all examples of the adverse effects of that third
form of alcohol abuse." Further, both instructions establish a policy
that it is the goal of the Department of the Navy to be free of the
effects of alcohol abuse. This policy was not complied with by many
junior officers nor was it enforced by the senior officers in attendance
during Tailhook '91.
Many naval aviators, their guests and other visitors recounted in
detail various incidents of inappropriate or unbecoming conduct in
the squadron hospitality suites and adjoining areas which were ac-
cessible by the public* These incidents included a stripper perform-
ing oral sex on an aviator during her performance. Another account
included an incident in which a woman, while getting her legs
shaved by a male aviator, stripped off her clothes and had her pubic
area shaved. There were additional accounts of women exposing
*Sections VII and VIII of the report briefly describe those activities. See
Appendix E for detailed description.
I 33 1
The Tailhook Report
themselves either to have squadron stickers applied to their breasts
by aviators or to receive free squadron T-shirts. Other reports
described male aviators who "ballwalked" or otherwise exposed
themselves in the suites or in the third-floor hallway.* A number of
ball walking incidents were photographed. Finally, there were nu-
merous descriptions of women performing simulated oral sex on
the dildo attached to the, rhinoceros mural in order to obtain a drink
from it.
Nineteen indecent assaults occurred in various hospitality suites. t
Those suites are identified as:
Hosting
Suite
Number of
Squadron
Number
Assaults
VS-41
304
1
VMFP-3 (Rhino)
308
6
VMFAT-101
355
1
CNATRA
364
8
Unable to determine
3
Our investigation determined that naval aviators rented other rooms,
in addition to the squadron hospitality suites, to sponsor private par-
ties for groups of aviators. We were told that, in a number of those
rooms, strippers performed or prostitutes were hired to engage in
sexual activities with the attendees 4
A number of contractors, including corporate members of the As-
sociation and exhibitors, sponsored hospitality suites at Tailhook
'91. According to an Association employee, contractors made their
own arrangements with the Las Vegas Hilton for those suites. By
most accounts, the contractor suites were located on upper floors of
the hotel. We found no instances of impropriety with regard to con-
tractor-sponsored suites.
We were told by contractor personnel and naval aviators that there
were a number of reasons for the suites. One contractor representa-
*Ballwalking was an activity engaged in by some aviators in which they pub-
licly exposed their testicles. It is discussed at Section VII. C.
tThe indecent assaults, along with information on the other reported assaults,
are discussed in Section VI.
tThe issue of consensual sexual activity is discussed in Section VIII of the
report.
134 ]
Squadron Hospitality Suites
tive explained their suite was used as a place for the company per-
sonnel to meet and plan their official activities at the convention.
One Navy officer described a suite, sponsored by an aircraft manu-
facturer, as a site for company representatives to socialize with naval
aviators and determine how the company might improve its aircraft.
In that suite, company representatives served alcohol and food to
guests. Token gifts of nominal value were available in the suite.*
*These gifts included such things as T-shirts and coffee mugs bearing a corpo-
rate logo.
135 ]
Section VI
Indecent Assaults
A. Gauntlet
Our investigation disclosed that the word "gauntlet," as applied in
the context of Tailhook '91, was variously interpreted by the many
people we interviewed. Some officers strongly disputed or denied
even the existence of a gauntlet. One Navy lieutenant, for example,
told us he thought the gauntlet was a "figment of someone's imagi-
nation" and he could not believe that a hundred guys would just
stand around and allow someone to be assaulted. Other officers said
they believed the gauntlet and Tailhook-related problems were cre-
ated by the media. One Navy lieutenant simply asserted that "there
is no such thing as the gauntlet." Another officer, a longstanding
member of the Tailhook Association who attended numerous Tail-
hook conventions, said the gauntlet, as described in media reports as
an organized effort by naval officers to grope females, "unequivo-
cally does not exist."
Others told us the gauntlet existed, but did not involve assaultive
behavior. Those witnesses defined the gauntlet as a very crowded
hallway where people were drinking and socializing and where it was
difficult to move without having drinks spilled on oneself. Yet others
reported that the gauntlet consisted of "drunk" and "obnoxious"
junior officers who pushed and shoved each other and anyone else in
the hallway. Some described the gauntlet as a bunch of drunken male
aviators who yelled catcalls, insults, and suggestive remarks to
women as they passed through the hallway. Many people told us they
understood the gauntlet to be a Tailhook tradition in which women
willingly walked through columns of drunken aviators and were fon-
dled, grabbed, groped, pinched, or otherwise consensually touched.
Numerous others told us the gauntlet involved uninvited, assaul-
tive behavior against unsuspecting women entering the third floor
hallway. Many of the witnesses and victims said they were alarmed
and disturbed by the severity of the indecent assaults they either wit-
nessed or had been subjected to at Tailhook '91. Finally, a substan-
[37]
The Tailhook Report
tial number of people we interviewed said that, although they had
never heard the word gauntlet used in the context of the Tailhook
conventions, they had observed assaultive behavior in the third-floor
hallway at Tailhook '91 and earlier Tailhook conventions.
Our investigation confirmed that the gauntlet did indeed exist and
at one time or another involved all of the behaviors described above.
Based on the reports and descriptions we received, we found that the
4 'gauntlet" evolved over the years from somewhat innocuous non-
assaultive behavior to the assaultive acts that occurred in recent
years. The gauntlet existed in some form for many years and was
well known within the naval aviation community.
Literally hundreds of witnesses reported they either witnessed or
were aware of behavior at past Tailhook conventions consistent with
the descriptions of the gauntlet at Tailhook '91. Some of those peo-
ple specifically referred to the gauntlet by name, while others simply
described unruly behavior in the hallway. A Navy lieutenant who
attended Tailhook for the first time in 1991 told us that while in the
third-floor hallway he observed a crowd of men yelling and pinching
women on the buttocks. A senior officer standing nearby told him
that the activity was an 4 4 old Navy tradition called the gauntlet." A
Marine Corps captain told us that participants at prior Tailhooks con-
sisted of junior and senior officers, but a higher percentage of junior
officers were involved. The same officer said the presence of senior
officers did not inhibit the gauntlet activity.
A former Tailhook Association representative said that although
he first heard the term 4 'gauntlet" applied to Tailhook in media re-
ports following Tailhook '91 , he had observed and taken part in that
type of behavior at Tailhook conventions 15 years earlier. He likened
the yells of male aviators lining the hallway to construction worker
catcalls at passing women. The earliest reported use of the term
4 'gauntlet" in the context of Tailhook came from a Navy commander
who said he heard the term in the early 1980s. He defined the gaunt-
let at that time as being a hallway filled with drunken officers who
had overflowed into the hallway from the hospitality suites. The
commander said that in the early 1980s there was no groping or
indecent assault connotation to the gauntlet. A number of other naval
officers provided similar descriptions of the gauntlet during Tailhook
conventions through the early 1980s. One officer thought the prac-
tice started in 1983 but was not termed a gauntlet until 1986.
Regardless of when the term gauntlet was first applied to behavior
at Tailhook, it is clear from the many interviews that the nature of
138]
Indecent Assaults
the hallway activity changed over the years. Descriptions of early
Tailhook conventions included aviators drinking and singing, stand-
ing against the wall and "cheering" as women walked through the
most crowded parts of the hallway. There were also accounts that as
women walked through the hallway, officers would call out ratings
as to the women's attractiveness. Witnesses said that type of activity
later changed to "horse-play" with aviators pushing, shoving and
throwing beer on one another.
By most accounts, there were few women in attendance at earlier
conventions. According to most descriptions, Tailhook conventions
in earlier years were largely "stag" affairs. Reportedly, "unwrit-
ten" rules prohibited officers from bringing spouses or cameras to
Tailhook. There are also reports that during earlier years, a large
proportion of the women attending Tailhook conventions could be
described as prostitutes or "groupies." However, in recent years,
the number of women attendees, both in terms of female naval offi-
cers and the wives of male officers, increased.
The nature of the gauntlet activities apparently changed some
time in the mid- to late 1980s when the gauntlet started to involve
males touching women who walked through the hallway. Some wit-
nesses suggested this was a progression from the cheering, catcalls,
and ratings of women typical of earlier Tailhook conventions, to
more physical contact in which officers would pinch and grab wom-
en's breasts, buttocks, and crotch areas as the women attempted to
traverse the hallway. The descriptions suggested that, initially,
touching was consensual and that the women involved were aware
and tolerant of the consequences of walking through a hallway lined
with drunken male aviators. Some accounts of prior Tailhook con-
ventions described the women touching and grabbing men in re-
sponse to the men's actions. Descriptions of the gauntlet in the mid-
to late 1980s also included reports of women being passed overhead
down the hallway, similar to a type of activity seen at some high
school or college football games.
Witnesses reported they heard men in the hallway calling out
"clear deck," "foul deck," "wave off" and "bolter." Those terms
are normally associated with aircraft landings on carriers. Report-
edly, the term "clear deck" was used as a signal to gauntlet partici-
pants that an attractive female was approaching. On the other hand,
the terms "wave off," "foul deck," and "bolter" signaled the ap-
proach of unappealing females, senior naval officers, or security per-
sonnel. Other activities associated with the gauntlet included men
139]
The Tailhook Report
pounding on the walls and repeatedly chanting "gauntlet" as they
anticipated the approach of women in the hallway. Chanting and
yelling has apparently been part of gauntlet activity for a long time.
Some others reported chanting at Tailhook '91 or earlier Tailhook
conventions included "abort, abort," used in the same context as
"wave off" or "bolter." A few witnesses reported that the words
"attitude," "bring bac^: the bitch," and similar phrases were used
whenever women showed anger at being subjected to the gauntlet.
Our investigation disclosed that gauntlet-related indecent assaults
dated back to at least Tailhook '88. Ten women reported to us that
they were assaulted when they attended Tailhook conventions be-
tween 1988 and 1990. The women reported they had been grabbed
on the breasts, buttocks, and/or crotch area. None of the women are
known to have reported their assaults to authorities until after Tail-
hook '91. A number of male aviators also reported that they wit-
nessed assaults on women at Tailhook conventions in the 1980s.
During that time period, gauntlet participants were first observed
acting in an organized fashion and using schemes apparently de-
signed to lure women into the gauntlet. Witnesses told us that, as
women approached the gauntlet, officers in the hallway pretended to
be merely socializing in small groups. The witnesses described how
the men would quiet down and create an opening in the crowd that
unsuspecting women might think to use as a passageway. Witnesses
went on to describe how women who entered the crowded portion of
the hallway would then be suddenly surrounded by the gauntlet par-
ticipants who groped them and prevented their exit.
Perhaps the best description of the gauntlet is contained in the
testimony of a Navy commander:
Q. During your interview . . . on October 3, 1992, you dis-
cussed incidents which occurred on the third floor of the
Hilton Hotel late Saturday evening, September 7, after the
hours of 2200 [10:00 p.m.].
Could you explain what you witnessed? You had related
an incident, I believe, regarding a woman who had passed
through The Gauntlet, and if you could just briefly explain
The Gauntlet.
A. Okay. My definition of The Gauntlet— it is a term that I've
heard used at Tailhook or around Tailhook for several years.
And I believe it comes from an old Clint Eastwood movie
[40]
Indecent Assaults
of the same name, about a street or an avenue that starts
wide and narrows into a funnel area that's hard to get
through. I think that's where the term "The Gauntlet"
originated, in regards to Tailhook.
And The Gauntlet would be pretty much in progress on
late Friday or late Saturday nights, and it would consist of
again, my estimate, two to three hundred young people—
young men. And that's just my estimate. I can tell you the
hallway— probably as long as maybe 30 yards or so— is
absolutely packed with bodies. And I would say the major-
ity of them are between 21-to-26-year-old young men,
mostly on the lower, probably the 21-to-24-year-olds and
mostly, in my judgment, just by the attendance at Tailhook,
mostly, young Nazal officers, but also Marine officers and
some Air Force guys; and I did see some people there in
'91 that, by their dress and their hair, were not in the mili-
tary at all. They were civilians that came from the local
areas to attend the party.
The group mainly stands out there and drinks and chants
and sings songs. And, on the occasion when a female
would pass through the area, they would chant or, as it
occurred on the late Saturday night, they would grab a
girl's butt or breasts, apparently, as she went through.
That's, I guess, the best way I can describe The Gaunt-
let.
The third floor east wing hallway of the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel is
approximately 6 feet wide, dimly lighted, and somewhat wider in
the area of the guest elevators and service area. It narrows as it ex-
tends eastward into the suite corridor. By all accounts, the third-floor
hallway was extremely crowded on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Witnesses described the hallway as nearly impassable at times be-
cause of the large number of people standing, loitering, or attempt-
ing to walk through the hallway.
The hallway curves from the area of the main guest elevators to
that straight section where gauntlet activity took place. Witnesses
said that the curvature of the hallway, combined with the crowded
conditions, made it very easy for someone to walk well into the third
floor hallway before realizing that anything unusual was taking
place.
Descriptions provided by most witnesses regarding the location of
l4i 1
The Tailhook Report
the gauntlet were generally consistent. The beginning of the gauntlet
was frequently described as being in the hallway just beyond the
hotel service area as one turned right out of the main guest elevators.
The gauntlet started in the area of the HS-10 suite (room 315) and
the VS-41 suite (room 304). It extended eastward and ended in the
vicinity of the Rhino suite (room 308). Two civilian females and one
civilian male described seeing a sign posted on the third floor which
read "Gauntlet— Enter at your own risk" or some similar wording.
One of the women specifically recalled that the sign was visible in
the hallway area immediately on exiting the guest elevators.*
Witnesses used the analogy of a funnel to describe the mass of
people in the gauntlet area. The area nearest the elevators was
sparsely populated in comparison to the beginning of the gauntlet,
beyond the elevator. The area was described as . .a million peo-
ple per square inch. " The crowd tapered off near the area of the VA-
128 and Rhino suites.
Several people described the third-floor hallway as smelling of
spilled beer, vomit, and urine at the height of the party on Friday
and/or Saturday nights. One Navy squadron XO told us ". . . the
hallway was gross . . . People— I'm sure they peed in the corners or
wherever they happened to be standing, loss of bladder control. They
puked there. It was terrible." Others said the hallway carpet was
saturated with spilled beer to the point that it "squished" when
walked on. Reportedly, the Hilton Hotel replaced or repaired and
cleaned the third-floor hallway carpeting each year following the
Tailhook convention because of the extensive damage.
The gauntlet operated intermittently, but most of the activity re-
portedly occurred between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and midnight on
Friday and Saturday nights. Just as gauntlet activity escalated over
the years, so too did the intensity and frequency of hallway assaults
increase over the three nights of Tailhook '91.
Our investigation revealed that many women freely and know-
ingly participated in gauntlet activities. A significant number of wit-
nesses reported that women went through the gauntlet and seemed to
enjoy the attention and interaction with the aviators. Those wit-
nesses, both men and women, generally stated they could tell the
women were enjoying themselves because, despite being grabbed
and pushed along through the crowd, they were smiling and gig-
gling. Some of the women were observed going repeatedly through
*No other witnesses reported the existence of such a sign.
[42 }
Indecent Assaults
the gauntlet. Many women who went through the gauntlet told us
they did so willingly and were not offended by the men touching
them. A civilian woman employed by the Navy told us of a conver-
sation she had with another young woman whom she met while on a
commercial flight into Las Vegas to attend Tailhook '91. The young
woman described the gauntlet and said that, at about 3:00 a.m.,
things get "real rough" and wild on the third floor. According to the
Navy employee, the young woman implied that she enjoyed this type
of activity and that was the reason she was going to Tailhook '91 .
Our investigation also revealed a much more sinister aspect to the
gauntlet at Tailhook '91 which involved assaults on unsuspecting
women. Of those assaults which occurred in the hallway, 5 took
place on Thursday, 11 on Friday, and 53 on Saturday. Individual
witness descriptions best portrayed the assaults and related activities.
The following are but a few of the many eyewitness accounts re-
ported during the investigation.
A female Navy lieutenant described the spontaneous formation of
the gauntlet. She said that squadron mates told her about the gauntlet
prior to attending Tailhook and warned her ". . . don't be on the
third floor after 11:00 p.m." Even though she was never told of the
assaultive aspects of the gauntlet, she realized that something hap-
pened to women who walked through the gauntlet. She explained
that in a matter of 30 minutes on Saturday night the hallway under-
went a major transformation. At 10:00 p.m., it was a quiet place
with 20 people. By 10:30 p.m., it had become an absolute mob
scene. It was apparent to her that the gauntlet she had heard about
was starting up, and she opined that people appeared to be exiting
the suites into the hallway at a preplanned time for the gauntlet.
A male Navy lieutenant junior grade also described the transfor-
mation of the hallway, as well as an incident of indecent exposure in
the gauntlet. He said that on Friday night he saw the third floor go
from a "crowded hallway" where people were just laughing and
joking to a "hallway where people started grabbing women" and
exhibiting a "mob mentality." He observed a short male, whom he
believed to be a Marine because of his short haircut, taking part in
the gauntlet. He said the man was "half naked" and took a woman's
hand and rubbed it against his exposed penis. This incident occurred
near the end of the gauntlet. He added that he did not think the
woman realized she had touched the man's penis, although she ap-
peared to be distressed.
A male Navy lieutenant described one unsuspecting woman's pas-
143]
The Tailhook Report
sage through the gauntlet. He stated that on Friday night at approxi-
mately 11:00 p.m., while standing in the third-floor hallway in the
area of the elevators, he heard people chanting and pounding on
something in a rhythmic drumming manner. He observed approxi-
mately 200 men lined up along the hallway walls. He compared the
activity to a high school football practice type of gauntlet. He saw a
woman enter and it seemed to him that *\ . .she did not understand
it was a gauntlet." As she attempted to walk through, he observed
her being ''groped and molested/' She was obviously "not enjoying
it [and] was pushing hands away from places she did not want
them." As she approached the gauntlet he "saw a look of fear in her
eyes. She fought her way through the gauntlet and then busted out
the side through a suite." He said the look of fear in the woman's
eyes caused him to realize the gauntlet was not just a playful situation
and he became concerned for other women in the hallway and vicin-
ity of the gauntlet. He found a hotel security guard and advised him
of the incident. He also warned some other women by telling them
"you don't want to go in there."
A male Marine Corps captain told us that the gauntlet was oper-
ated in an organized manner. He said that on Saturday night between
10:00 and 1 1:00 p.m. he observed the gauntlet. It operated between
the hotel service area and the VA-128 suite (room 307). He saw a
group of about 30 men, whom he believed to be military personnel,
milling around in the hallway. As he watched, women approached
and someone yelled "wave off," at which time the women walked
through without being molested. On separate occasions, he saw two
women walk into the group of men and, once inside, the men turned
on the women and began jostling and pushing them along the hall-
way. When a woman entered the group, both ends of the gauntlet
closed with men blocking any avenue of retreat. Once a woman es-
caped from the gauntlet, someone yelled, "Mill about," which
would then be repeated over and over in low voices by the men all
along the gauntlet. In response, the men slowly shuffled their feet
and faced at odd angles until the next woman approached, giving the
appearance they were just standing along the hall socializing with
each other.
The Marine captain also observed the group grab a woman who
was accompanied by a man. The man yelled "knock it off . . . that's
my wife," and the man stepped in front of the woman to shield her.
The group ignored the man and kept grabbing and jostling the
woman until the husband started swinging his fists at the men who
[44 ]
Indecent Assaults
were assaulting his wife. At that point, the group stopped and al-
lowed the couple to pass through. A Tailhook staff person later ap-
proached the group and yelled "knock this crap off." A couple of
men attempted to argue with the Tailhook staffer, but the staffer did
not back down and the group disbanded.
A male Marine Corps first lieutenant said that on Friday night he
saw about a dozen women walk through the gauntlet, and approxi-
mately half of those appeared to be happy and enjoying themselves.
The other half appeared displeased and at least one appeared seri-
ously distressed. A crowd of about 200 males bunched together in
the hall pounding the wall and shouting "gauntlet, gauntlet." Peri-
odically, males shouted "mill about" at which time the people in
the gauntlet would being feigning "milling about" and the general
noise level would lower. When a female entered the gauntlet, the
participants would surround her and touch, pat, and grab her while
she was funnelled down the hall. He heard shouts of "shut the
doors," which he deduced was intended to prevent women from es-
caping into the suites and to channel them through the length of the
gauntlet. He said the general noise level increased substantially when
an attractive female entered the gauntlet. He also heard shouts of
"wave off," which he believed was a code indicating an older or
"unattractive" female was entering the gauntlet. The participants
did not touch women rated as "wave off."
Another male Navy lieutenant described how gauntlet participants
treated women differently depending on how each woman reacted to
being touched. He said he saw at least 15 women come through the
gauntlet in a 2-hour period and estimated that a third of the women
seemed to enjoy the gauntlet, another third were upset by it, and the
remaining third were extremely resistant to the gauntlet. He noted
that the more the women fought the men who were attacking them,
the more the males attacked.
We received two independent accounts of a woman (or women)
who walked through the hallway with electronic weapons. One male
lieutenant said that on Saturday night he saw a woman come through
the crowd carrying a "Tazer," which he described as a device simi-
lar to a small cattle prod and designed to foil attackers. He said the
woman was waving the device, which was apparently recognized by
the men in the hallway because they did not bother her. Another
officer said he saw a woman on Saturday who looked "frazzled."
He said that as the woman approached the elevators a man tried to
[45]
The Tailhook Report
grab her breasts. The woman pulled out a "zapper" (which he de-
scribed as a stun gun) which she waved in the man's face.
A Navy enlisted man* stated that on Friday night, while standing
in the hallway near the deck exit closest to the Rhino suite, he saw
men lining up along the hallway. Several women pushed their way
through and they emerged from the gauntlet near where he was
standing. When they erjnerged, the women had squadron stickers on
their bodies. The hallway scene looked "like a pin ball machine
[with each] guy getting his shot in." He also saw a man near the
elevators quieting the men in the hallway as unsuspecting women
approached the gauntlet. He believed the gauntlet to be an organized
event because the man quieting the crowd received a strong negative
response from the men in the hall when, after successfully quieting
the crowd, a man, rather than a woman, appeared at the gauntlet's
entrance.
There were numerous accounts of how women were lured into the
gauntlet. For example, some witnesses heard men in the gauntlet yell
out that they needed more women, and men would then go down to
the casino area to recruit them. A male civilian Navy employee told
us that he observed the gauntlet on two occasions on Saturday night.
Sometime between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m., he was standing in the hall-
way near the VX-4 suite (room 360). He could only see the end of
the gauntlet because of the crowd. Although most women who exited
did not appear upset and some were even laughing, he saw one
woman crying and being consoled by two friends. About an hour
later, he was standing near the HS-1 helicopter suite (room 315)
where he observed the beginning of the gauntlet. As women entered,
he saw hands reach out for their breasts, crotch areas, and buttocks.
Two hotel security guards were standing near the service area advis-
ing women not to walk down the hall, but they took no steps to stop
the gauntlet. During that same time, he watched a male walk up to
women and escort them into the gauntlet. The male would walk up
to the women, put his arm around them, and talk nicely to them,
almost as if he were trying to disarm them and not let on that they
were about to be thrust into a gauntlet. He heard participants whisper
"shhhh" in an attempt to quiet everyone down. The noise level in
the gauntlet decreased when new women approached and elevated
once they were in the gauntlet.
A male Navy Lieutenant commander and his civilian spouse each
*We interviewed a total of 27 enlisted personnel who attended Tailhook '91 .
I 46 ]
Indecent Assaults
described their observations of the gauntlet on Saturday night. The
officer told us that he has attended four or five Tailhooks since 1982
and is familiar with the gauntlet, which occurred at every Tailhook
convention. He said the term gauntlet is routinely used among naval
aviators. It occurs at no established day or time and the hallway is
lined with people who begin by chanting. He opined that, for the
most part, the same people get involved in the gauntlet each year.
The gauntlet varies in size depending on the time of the night. On
Saturday night at Tailhook '91 his wife wanted to see the gauntlet in
action. He was unsuccessful in dissuading her, so they went to the
third-floor hallway where they stood about 5 to 6 feet away from the
head of the gauntlet: they saw a very clear demarcation point where
the gauntlet began. They watched for approximately 20 minutes and
heard men yelling such things as 44 Clear deck," "Foul deck,"
"Wave off," and "Bolter." During that time, he saw a number of
people enter the gauntlet. Men proceeded unmolested, however, sev-
eral women were pinched or patted on the buttocks. All those women
appeared to be laughing.
The lieutenant commander further stated that he also saw a couple
who appeared to be in their mid- to late '60's enter the gauntlet area.
As they walked through the gauntlet, a passageway opened up to let
the couple through. His wife told him that she saw someone pat the
woman's buttocks, but he did not see that himself. He recalled that
one woman started down the gauntlet and became irate when she
was apparently pinched. He said she turned around and threw a beer
at a man standing 3 to 4 feet away, hitting him in the face and head
with the beer. The man retaliated by throwing his beer on the
woman. The woman hit the man on his jaw and the man then struck
the side of the woman's head with a closed hand and the witness
thought the woman might have fallen to her knees. He said the
woman reversed course and "took off like a rocket."* At that point,
his wife said she had seen enough and the couple departed. He noted
that in previous years he also took part in the gauntlet. He opined
that the gauntlet is more of a melee than an organized event and that
no one individual organized it. He said that in the past, the gauntlet
was a "promenade kind of thing" in which women went through for
the express purpose of getting pinched. He added that it has been a
rule for everyone involved in a significant gauntlet incident to leave
*This woman was not further identified during the course of our investigation.
147)
The Tailhook Report
as soon as the incident happened because that hinders identification
of those involved.
The officer's spouse provided a somewhat different perspective of
the same incidents. She said that when she and her husband entered
the third floor hallway, people were screaming and yelling. She
leaned against the wall so that her back was protected. Her husband
stood in front of her to shield her from potential frontal assaults. She
recalled that an unidentified male who was standing nearby, turned
to her and said something like, "You probably will want to leave.
You won't want to see what's about to happen. ' ' She said it appeared
that some signal had been given that the "gauntlet" was about to
start, and all the men in the hallway began lining the halls rather than
milling about, as though suddenly organized. She said many of the
men began drumming their hands on the walls. A clear passageway
formed down the center of the hallway and women were pinched or
patted on their buttocks as they walked through. Regarding the inci-
dent described by her husband in which a man and a woman struck
each other in the gauntlet, she said that she was personally shocked
by the force of the blow the man used. It appeared to her that the
man put his full strength behind the blow. Unlike her husband, she
did not see any women lining up to get pinched or patted, but rather
it seemed to her that they were simply trying to get through the
hallway.* She saw an older couple go through the gauntlet. It ap-
peared to her that the crowd did not care about rank or age, as a
number of men touched the woman's buttocks and the woman con-
tinuously tried to swat their hands away.
A vivid and detailed description of the gauntlet on Saturday night
was reported by a male civilian Navy employee. He said, "I was
probably 10 years older than the average age down here, and was
just sort of being a fly on the wall, just observing." He said the men
lining the hallway quieted and pressed their backs against the walls
when females approached so as to give the appearance of a clear
passage down the center of the hallway. He saw a white male who
was standing in the hallway near the HS-1 helicopter suite (room
315) whom he described as the gauntlet "master of ceremonies."
He said the "master of ceremonies" was moving about in a very
animated fashion and appeared totally dedicated to getting all the
women approaching the hallway to proceed down it. When unable to
*The officer's wife said she was "stone cold sober" at the time she witnessed
the gauntlet, whereas she and her husband stated that he had been drinking.
[48]
Indecent Assaults
coax women into entering the gauntlet, the "master of ceremonies"
would "pick them up on his shoulders and carry them into the gaunt-
let area and deposit them and go out for more." He reported seeing
four to six women carried into the gauntlet by the "master of cere-
monies." On one occasion the "master of ceremonies" approached
a woman from behind, squatted down, placed his head between her
legs, and forcibly carried her on his shoulders into the gauntlet.
The Navy employee went on to describe how he happened to get
caught in the middle of the gauntlet on Saturday evening:
I had made my way down towards the training suites,
the VF-121 (sic) suite, Room 373 and was then mak-
ing my way back through the hallway— a very, very
crowded hallway— very slow progress being made
through the hallway. At about the Room 308 to 312
area there, there was some commotion in the hallway
and some direction to make a hole, or clear the hall-
way.
At this time all the people around me were getting
up against the wall, they were clearing out of the hall-
way. So I did likewise. In about the area of Room
308, 307, on that side of the hallway. I then basically
put my back to the wall and I had a beer mug with
me, and awaited further instructions. I was just, once
again, a fly on the wall.
At this point, then, I noticed that there was one
woman that had been behind me, obviously, and she
was now to my right. She got accosted from both
sides of the hallway. People were grabbing her. She
was falling against the far side wall.
He further stated that the woman tried to protect herself as she was
being grabbed high and low, both front and back, by all the men
around her. He said that at least one of the men who grabbed the
woman's breasts appeared to be a civilian. He said she was definitely
not amused by the grabbing and she attempted to fight back.
Many eyewitness accounts described women who had articles of
clothing ripped or removed as they went through the gauntlet. One
particularly disturbing incident involved an intoxicated college fresh-
man who was stripped from the waist down as she was passed
overhead through the gauntlet and then left on the hallway floor.
[49]
The Tmlhook Report
Although she had not attained legal drinking age in Nevada, she was
served a considerable amount of alcohol by the officers in the HS-1
hospitality suite. After becoming intoxicated, she was placed by
those officers in the hallway in the vicinity of the gauntlet. Once in
the hallway, she was lifted above the crowd of men and passed hand-
over-hand down the hallway. As she was passed over the crowd, the
men removed her slacks and underpants. At the end of the gauntlet,
they dumped her on the* floor, and cleared out of the hallway as hotel
security officers came to the victim's assistance.
A Marine Corps first lieutenant who witnessed the same incident
from the other end of the hallway described the reaction of gauntlet
participants. He had just left the CNATRA suite and was in the hall-
way walking toward the guest elevators and hotel service area. A
mass of people was going in the same direction. Suddenly, there was
a shift in the motion of the crowd and six to eight men rushed toward
him, going in the other direction as quickly as possible, but laughing
rather than fleeing in fear. The hallway suddenly cleared for several
feet in front of him, and he saw a young female, naked from the
waist down, seated in the middle of the hall.
The Executive Director of the Tailhook Association told us that
he learned of this incident shortly after it occurred. When questioned
about how he viewed the matter, he responded:
I looked at it as a spontaneous incident, more along
the line of a prank, not a prank in good taste, but
I . . . that's my view of the situation at the time.
During the investigation, we obtained a photograph taken just after
this incident occurred. It shows the victim, nude from the waist
down, being escorted by security officials through the hallway as a
group of aviators looks on. The hallway is littered with plastic drink-
ing cups and the victim's pants. We chose not to publish the photo-
graph out of consideration for the victim. However, we note that
during several interviews we conducted in which the officer being
interviewed expressed his belief that the events at Tailhook '91 were
4 4 no big deal," showing the officer a copy of the photograph had a
dramatic effect. Several of the officers who viewed the photograph
were visibly shaken.
The gauntlet was also vividly described to us by several victims.
One female civilian victim, who was in Las Vegas on vacation with
a female friend, told us she was walking through the third-floor hall-
[50]
Indecent Assaults
way with her friend when a group of men in the hallway began chant-
ing and yelling. The men reached out and began to grab at her
breasts, buttocks, and crotch. They tried to lift her skirt and grabbed
at her legs and buttocks while she desperately tried to hold down her
skirt. As she looked back she saw that her friend was also being
assaulted. The men also threw drinks on the victim, soaking her
clothing with alcohol.
Another female civilian victim told us that, as she walked up the
hallway, at least seven men suddenly attacked her. They pulled down
her "tube top" and grabbed at her exposed breasts while she at-
tempted to cover herself with her arms. She fell to the ground and
the assault continued. She bit several of her attackers in an attempt
to stop their assault. After a few moments, they stopped their attack
and she was allowed to get up from the floor. She turned and looked
back down the hallway and observed another woman screaming and
fighting her way down the hallway as she too was attacked. The
victim was crying profusely when she was approached by a Marine
Corps aviator whom she had met earlier. He told her that it is an
annual tradition at Tailhook conventions to harass women physically
and verbally in the hallway and she should not worry about it. The
victim later told her boyfriend, a Navy officer, about the attack but
he advised her not to tell anyone about it because they would think
she was a "slut."
In another incident, a 24-year-old female Navy officer told us that
she entered the third-floor hallway and was immediately surrounded
by five or six men who groped and grabbed at her breasts and but-
tocks. While she struggled to escape, she saw two male Navy offi-
cers she recognized standing in the hallway close to where she was
being attacked. Although she believed the men witnessed her attack
and failed to help her, both men denied having seen or heard any-
thing unusual. The victim saw one of the Navy officers several
months after Tailhook '91. He told the victim that men have been
treating women like that "since caveman days," and that she had no
business being there (Tailhook '91) in the first place because she was
not an aviator.
One victim, a 32-year-old female, reported that she attended Tail-
hook '91 with her spouse, a Navy officer; her mother; and two of her
mother's female friends. As the group walked through the hallway
the victim, who was wearing a formal cocktail dress, was suddenly
grabbed around the waist and lifted above the crowd by two men.
The men lifted the skirt of her dress above her waist and pushed their
[5/ 1
The TaIlhook Report
hands between her legs in an attempt to get their fingers inside her
panties. Our investigation revealed that the victim's mother as well
as one of her mother's friends were also indecently assaulted as they
walked through the hallway.
LT Paula Coughlin, the Navy officer who first publicly revealed
allegations of impropriety at Tailhook '91, told us that she entered
the third-floor hallway of the Hilton Hotel and, as she walked up the
hallway and into a crowd of men, someone began to yell, "Admir-
al's Aide!" She was grabbed on the buttocks from behind with such
force that she was lifted up off the ground. As she turned to confront
the man, another man behind her grabbed her buttocks and she was
pushed from behind into a crowd of men who collectively began
pinching her body and pulling at her clothing. One man put both his
hands down the front of her tank top, inside her brassiere, and
grabbed her breasts. LT Coughlin told us that she crouched down
and bit the man on his forearm and on his right hand. As the man
released his grip on her breasts, another man reached up under her
skirt and grabbed her panties. She then kicked out at her attackers.
She stated, "I felt as though the group was trying to rape me." LT
Coughlin told us that she saw one of the men in the group turn to
walk away so she "reached out and tapped him on the hip, pleading
with the man to just let me get in front of him." The man turned
around to face her, raised both his hands, and placed them on her
breasts.
Many witnesses stated there was nothing they could do to stop the
assaults in the hallway and that the size of the crowd, the level of
intoxication, and the noise would have made it impossible for them
to put a stop to the gauntlet. One Navy lieutenant said that although
he believed the actions of those in the gauntlet were inappropriate,
he did not do anything to stop them simply because he is a junior
officer. Others, however, stated that senior officers could have put a
stop to the assaults if they had chosen to do so. A lieutenant com-
mander opined that if a flag officer had elected to stop the gauntlet,
it probably would have stopped. He added, however, the comment
that "You get to a certain stage of drunkenness, you don't care."
We found one account to be particularly telling on the subject of
whether anything could have been done to stop the gauntlet assaults.
Apparently, the crowd comprising the gauntlet was capable of re-
sponding to direction. Two female victims told us that, after they
were pushed and shoved through the gauntlet where they were
grabbed on the breasts and buttocks, one of them realized she had
[52 ]
Indecent Assaults
lost her electronic pager. Both victims recounted that they were as-
sisted by officers standing at the end of the gauntlet. One of the
officers yelled to the gauntlet participants that the woman had lost a
pager. According to one of the victims, the ". . . whole crowd
stopped and began to look for the pager." The pager was located
and returned to the woman without further incident.
Our investigation disclosed that, despite statements by many sen-
ior officers to the contrary, the fact that the gauntlet was in operation
was well known. As previously mentioned, a large number of offi-
cers said they had witnessed or heard of the gauntlet at prior Tailhook
conventions. Many others, particularly female officers, said they had
been forewarned to avoid the third-floor hallway at certain times.
Even many civilians who were in attendance at Tailhook '91 said
they were aware of the gauntlet. Several witnesses described seeing
similar gauntlet activity at settings other than Tailhook, such as at
officers' clubs. A number of officers said they felt confident the
gauntlet was common knowledge among military attendees at Tail-
hook. Several officers stated that anyone who spent time in the area
of the third-floor hallway on Friday or Saturday night and said they
were unaware of the gauntlet activity "must be lying."
Several witnesses mentioned that they heard references to the
gauntlet while out on the pool deck. One lieutenant said that he re-
called someone walking out onto the pool deck on either Friday or
Saturday evening and saying "they've already run the gauntlet."
There were accounts of other gauntlet activity. One gauntlet report-
edly operated briefly on an upper floor of the hotel. Also, a witness
described a "mini gauntlet" on the patio pool deck where several
women repeatedly and consensually walked through a line of offi-
cers.
Of the many officers and civilian Tailhook attendees who admitted
witnessing the gauntlet, only a few witnesses stated they were able
to identify anyone else who was in the hallway at the time they wit-
nessed the gauntlet in operation. In light of statements by most avi-
ators that one of the primary reasons for attending Tailhook was to
socialize with friends and former squadron mates, we found the in-
ability of witnesses to identify gauntlet observers or participants to
be incredible. The statements were also questionable in light of the
fact that many of those same officers could identify persons in their
company at other times during Tailhook '91 .
When one Navy commander was queried as to the likelihood of
an aviator being in the third-floor hallway without seeing anybody
I 53 1
The Tailhook Report
whom that person knew, the commander responded: ''You couldn't
have done that, I don't think . . . well, maybe in the morning and
the afternoon, but, you know in the evenings. I don't think you could
have done that." When asked, hypothetically, about witnesses who
stated that they were in the hallway and did not see anybody that
they knew, this witness stated: "I would say that the person would
be lying, and I don't see how he could do that. I was an ensign the
first time that I went there, and I knew people, even inside the air
wing, okay? You would almost have to know somebody there. So
I'm sure there's an isolated case, but I don't think so."
A T-shirt sold at Tailhook '91 and worn by many attendees serves
to illustrate the expectations regarding the general atmosphere rela-
tive to the third floor.
B . Victims
From Thursday, September 5, 1991, through the early morning
hours of Sunday, September 8, 1991, at least 90 people were victims
of some form of indecent assault while at Tailhook '91 . Of that num-
ber, 83 were women and 7 were men.* Our investigation also dis-
closed information pertaining to 10 women who told us they were
assaulted at previous Tailhook conventions. This report focuses on
the Tailhook '91 assault victims.
Table 3 depicts various categories of victims by occupation or
other affiliation.
The assault victims range from 18 to 48 years of age. Eight vic-
tims were assaulted more than once. Of those, four victims were
assaulted on more than one evening and four were each assaulted at
two different locations on the same night.
We divided the assaults into three separate nights. Those assaults
indicated as occurring on Thursday include those that occurred in the
early morning hours of Friday. Friday assaults include events in the
early hours of Saturday morning, and Saturday includes early Sun-
day morning as well.
Eleven assaults, involving 10 women, took place on Thursday
*We are aware there are individuals, in addition to those discussed in this report,
who were victims of indecent assault at Tailhook '91. That group includes five
individuals who have been identified by us as assault victims, but who refused
to be interviewed.
I 54 ]
Indecent Assaults
Table 3
Victims
Civilian Other (Female)
United States Navy (Female)
Government Employee (Female)
Military Spouse (Female)
United States Navy (Male)
United States Marine Corps (Male)
United States Air Force (Female)
49
21
6
6
5
2
1
Total Victims
90
evening. Five took place in the hallway, five in administrative suites,
and one on the pool patio.*
Eighteen assaults occurred on Friday night. Eleven took place in
the hallway, five in administrative suites, and two on the pool patio.
The greatest number of assaults occurred on Saturday evening, when
there were a total of 68 assaults involving 63 victims. Fifty-three of those
assaults took place in the third-floor hallway, eight in suites, six on the
pool patio, and one victim was assaulted in one of the guest rooms on
another floor. Of the assaults that took place in the third-floor hallway
on Saturday night, 36 took place between 9:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight.
The assaults varied from victims being grabbed on the buttocks, to
victims being groped, pinched, and fondled on their breasts, buttocks,
and genitals. t Some victims were bitten by their assailants, others were
knocked to the ground, and some had their clothing ripped or removed.
Some of the victims confronted their attackers and felt they had handled
the situation to their own satisfaction.
Few victims were able to identify positively their assailants. Typi-
cally, they attributed their inability to identify their attackers to several
*One victim was assaulted in the hallway and also in one of the administrative
suites. Similarly two victims who were working as waitresses in an administra-
tive suite were assaulted numerous times in the suite over the 3-day period.
fThere were numerous accounts of lewd comments directed toward women, as
well as accounts of women who were nonconsensually patted, touched, or
"zapped" on various parts of their bodies. Those accounts were not included
as assaults for purposes of this report.
155 ]
The Tailhook Report
factors, including poor lighting in the hallway, the confusion resulting
from the crowded conditions, and their shock at being assaulted. The
victims also said most of the men in the hallway looked alike in that they
were young, physically fit, Caucasian males with short military-style
haircuts, and typically dressed in T-shirts and shorts.
A complete summary of each of the assaults is attached as Appen-
dix F. Of the victims, nine did not consider themselves to be a "vic-
tim" even though they have been subjected to indecent assault.*
C. Other Assaults and Injuries
A number of assaults, other than indecent assaults, occurred at Tail-
hook '91 . Several witnesses reported that fights occurred in the third-
floor hallway and the pool patio area. Hotel security reported break-
ing up several such altercations on the third floor during Tailhook
'91.
In one instance, a Marine Corps major was pushed over a clay
planter by a Navy commander on the pool patio. The altercation
occurred after the major, while intoxicated, deliberately splashed
water onto the commander. The commander took umbrage and forc-
ibly pushed the major over the planter. The major sustained back
injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
In another incident, a 24-year-old male Air Force officer from Las
Vegas, Nevada, walked into the hallway of the third floor of the hotel
on Friday wearing his Air Force flight jacket. As soon as he exited
the elevators, the naval aviators in the hallway yelled, "Hey boys,
there's an Air Force guy." They then grabbed him, picked him up
and passed him overhead about 80 to 100 feet down the hallway,
spilling their drinks on him along the way. The officer subsequently
escaped the area without sustaining any physical injuries.
Finally, a female student from the University of Las Vegas (UNLV)
was on the pool patio talking with several other female UNLV students
on Saturday evening when a sheet of glass from one of the upper-floor
windows of the hotel was pushed out.f Glass shards from the window
*For the purposes of our investigation and report, we have used the term "vic-
tim" to describe any individual who was subjected to a nonconsensual indecent
assault. If, however, an individual told us that he/she chose not to be classified
as a victim, we so noted that fact in their individual assault summary.
fAs discussed in Section VII. B of the report.
[56]
Indecent Assaults
struck her on top of her head. She began to feel ill and went to the
hospital where it was determined that she had suffered a concussion.
According to several witnesses, the glass was pushed out of the window
by people who were pressing their bare buttocks on the window while
' 'mooning' ' the crowd on the pool patio below.
(571
Section VII
Indecent Exposure
During our investigation, we received numerous reports of public
nudity and indecent exposure in the third-floor hallway, in the hos-
pitality suites and outside on the pool patio. This behavior falls into
three general categories of "streaking," "mooning," and "ball-
walking."
A. Streaking
One form of indecent exposure that occurred at Tailhook '91 in-
volved "streaking," a term used by most witnesses to describe the
actions of males who removed their clothing and walked or ran nude
past onlookers. Several streaking instances occurred during Tailhook
'91 . In each of the reported instances, males were seen running nude
either through the suites or on the hotel pool patio. Some incidents
involved a single streaker whereas others were reported to include as
many as 10 individuals. Those instances occurred in the evening
hours of Friday and Saturday or in the early morning hours Sunday.
Witnesses included numerous male and female naval officers, a
Hilton Hotel security officer and civilians. Witnesses were able to
provide information leading to the identification of six naval officers
as streakers. Two of those officers are Navy flight surgeons.
Streakers were sometimes pursued by Hilton security officers. In
those instances, other naval officers sought to delay or otherwise
impede the security officers thus allowing the streakers to escape into
the squadron hospitality suites. Several of the reported streaking in-
cidents centered around the VAQ-129 and VS-41 suites. Witnesses,
including officers assigned to VAQ-129, reported to us that they ob-
served streakers in the VAQ-129 suite on numerous occasions. Wit-
nesses told us that both men and women observed the streakers.
Other streaking incidents include a group of four or five males
streaking across the patio early Sunday morning while being chased
by security officers. These streakers were described as being naked
[591
The Tailhook Report
except for their Rhino horn headgear (worn by many members of the
former Marine 4 'Rhino" squadron). A second instance involved a
group of about 10 naked males who were seen winding their way
through the patio crowd as they held hands. In yet another instance,
a male aviator related that on Friday evening he entered the VS-41
suite and observed three males walking around the room naked de-
spite the fact there were other male and female guests in the suite. A
second officer stated that on Saturday night he observed six or seven
streakers exit the VS-41 suite and run across the patio. The witness
also noted that a group of fully dressed women preceded the men
and appeared to be carrying the men's clothing.
Witnesses, including then Tailhook President, CAPT Ludwig, and
the Executive Director acknowledged that streaking had been a per-
sistent problem at Tailhook conferences. When interviewed, CAPT
Ludwig stated that he saw five streakers run across the pool patio.
CAPT Ludwig described the subsequent encounter as follows:
And so I immediately go after them. And I get in a
suite, look around and I'm— you know, I am abso-
lutely astounded that these characters have disap-
peared. They are nowhere to be seen. The bathroom
door is closed, so— you know, it is locked. I finally
bang, and here is five guys huddled up, looking pretty
sheepish in the bathroom . . . And so I chew the shit
out of them, and tell them, "Get some towels on you,
get your asses out of here and get yourselves dressed
and don't ever let me see you again."
CAPT Ludwig stated that he did not inquire as to the officers names
or specific unit but did note that the incident occurred in the VAQ-
129 squadron suite. Our investigation identified the men involved in
the incident. All were found to be Navy aviators.
No other action is known to have been taken either by the Navy
or the Association in that or any of the other reported streaking
incidents.
B . Mooning
Another form of indecent exposure, referred to as "mooning," in-
volved individuals baring their buttocks within view of other atten-
[6o]
Indecent Exposure
dees. An overwhelming number of attendees, including male and
female military officers, Tailhook Association officers, civilians,
contractor employees and hotel security staff acknowledged witness-
ing such instances. Mooning incidents occurred on every day and
night of Tailhook '91 and were seen in various suites, in the third-
floor hallway, on the pool patio and from the patio level while look-
ing up at windows on many floors of the hotel. Evidence indicated
that mooning was a common practice among naval aviators at Tail-
hook '91 and at previous Tailhook conventions.
Although most occurrences involved only males, some incidents
involved only females while others included both males and females.
Although a few male officers acknowledged or were reported by
others to have participated in that activity, in most cases our inves-
tigation failed to identify individuals involved in specific mooning
incidents.
Male officers, in some instances, posed for photographs while
mooning at the request of female civilian attendees. Certain of those
photographs were obtained as evidence during the course of our in-
vestigation. In the HS-1 suite (room 315), a few officers recorded
over combat footage in a video camcorder to memorialize their
mooning activities. They left the videotape in the camcorder to the
later surprise of the squadron CO who owned the equipment.*
C. "Ballwalking"
The third form of indecent exposure engaged in by naval aviators at
Tailhook '91 involved publicly exposing their testicles, commonly
referred to in the naval aviation community as 4 4 ball walking."
Eighty individuals reported to us that they witnessed ballwalking at
Tailhook '91. Insufficient evidence was found to state with certainty
exactly how many ballwalking incidents occurred at Tailhook '91.
We identified 14 military officers who ball walked during the conven-
tion.
*One mooning instance resulted in minor injuries and could conceivably have
resulted in more serious injuries. Late Saturday evening, an unspecified number
of individuals mooned the patio crowd from a window on the eighth floor of the
Hilton Hotel. That apparently caused a large plate glass window to break and
crash down onto the patio area, which at the time was crowded with guests. At
least two individuals were cut by falling glass and required medical treatment.
[6/ ]
The Tailhook Report
Where and how the practice of ball walking started is unclear, but
several accounts serve to indicate how widespread the practice is
within the Navy. Four officers told us that they observed ballwalking
by naval officers in either Korea or the Philippines. One officer stated
that he was first introduced to the practice of ballwalking at a squad-
ron golf game. Those golfers who failed to reach the point of the
women's tee, when teeing off, were required to play the remainder
of the hole while ballwalking. The same officer stated he had ob-
served ballwalking at various naval officers' clubs.
Another officer, who told us he declined an invitation by other
officers to ball walk at Tailhook '91 , stated that ballwalking was com-
monplace at parties held by training squadrons at the NAS Meridian,
Mississippi. The individual readily admitted to seeing and partici-
pating in ballwalking during those squadron parties. Still another
officer, who was identified as a ball walker at Tailhook '91, stated he
had seen ballwalking at "wingings" when naval aviators are
awarded their pilot's wings. He added that other male aviators had
been caught ballwalking at the Officers' Club at NAS Kings ville,
Texas, and that "nothing adverse happened to them."
One instance of ballwalking was reported to have occurred at the
United States Naval Academy. An officer told us that while he was
an Academy cadet, a senior cadet demonstrated ballwalking to him.
After the demonstration, the senior cadet wanted the younger cadet
to ball walk in front of a female cadet. The cadet refused.
All but one of the reported instances of ballwalking took place on
either the third floor or the pool patio deck area of the hotel on Friday
and Saturday or very early Sunday morning. The exception involved
two naval officers who, after leaving the Hilton early Sunday morn-
ing, ballwalked down the streets of Las Vegas. The ball walkers were
observed by a third officer and they even attempted to get him to
ballwalk by stating, "It's a tradition, you've got to do this." The
third officer refused to participate and distanced himself from them.
The third officer added that, although it was early in the morning,
there were people on the streets.
The incidents occurred primarily in three areas. The first area, the
outside pool patio deck, was very large and could accommodate
crowds with more ease than the other two. For that reason, many
attendees preferred to spend time on the pool patio deck area, espe-
cially those who wanted to avoid the crowded hallway. There were
27 reported ballwalking sightings on the pool patio deck area.
The second area where ballwalking occurred was in individual
[62 ]
Indecent Exposure
suites. Specific suites in which ball walking is known to have oc-
curred include CNATRA, VT-24, VF-124, VA-128 and Naval Strike
Warfare Center. Ballwalking apparently occurred in other suites but,
in some instances, witnesses could not identify specific suites with
certainty. One such incident involved either the VMFAT or the
MAWTS suite (rooms 355 and 356) while another involved the VAQ-
129, VAW-110 or the VS-41 suite (rooms 302, 303, 304). In short,
ballwalking was not limited to a particular suite or otherwise con-
fined in any one area.
The third area in which ballwalking incidents occurred was the
hallway where the gauntlet took place. Thirteen people reported they
observed ballwalking in the hallway. At least four specific incidents
involved ballwalkers who went from the hallway into individual
suites. Ballwalking was practiced by individual officers, in pairs,
and in groups of three or more with about equal frequency.
A few aviators provided reasons why they ball walked. One avia-
tor described ballwalking as a "manly thing" to do with the guys.
Another officer speculated that males do it for one-upmanship, "try-
ing to be more rude and wild than the next person." The attitude of
a ballwalker may best be illustrated by a T-shirt worn by a ballwalker
at Tailhook '90. The T-shirt, which was sold at the convention, read,
"HANG EM IF YOU GOT EM." Finally, a ballwalker at Tailhook
'91 stated ballwalking is done as an "Act of Defiance."
We are aware of only three individuals who took corrective action
with respect to ballwalking. In the first instance, a Naval Reserve
commander told us that on Saturday night he saw a young white male
whom he believed to be a naval officer on the pool patio deck area
near the VR-57 suite. The commander noted that the individual was
ballwalking and told him that ballwalking was not appreciated in his
area. He told the officer to put his testicles back into his pants and
act like an adult. The young man got very red in the face, followed
the instructions, and then left the area.
The second action was also taken by a naval commander who
observed two lieutenants ballwalking on the patio pool deck area.
The commander said that it was the "most disgusting thing" he had
ever seen and he immediately went over to the men and chastised
them. He specifically told the ballwalkers to zip up their pants and
that he did not want to see anything like that again. The commander
stated that, in his view, he "handled the situation."
The only other individual we know to have taken corrective action
was a hotel security officer who observed a male whose testicles
[63]
The Tailhook Report
were visible below the legs of his "short-shorts." The security offi-
cer told him to change into other clothes.
Ballwalking incidents reported at Tailhook '91 all occurred in the
presence of male and female attendees. In at least one instance, a
Navy captain was present and took no action. The civilian woman
who related the events stated that she and a female Navy lieutenant
were talking to a Navy captain when the civilian woman accidentally
brushed up against a guy who was standing with his testicles ex-
posed. When the captain informed the woman that the practice was
called "ballwalking," she responded, "Oh, my God!" According
to the woman, her shocked reaction caused the men, including the
captain, to laugh. The captain then told her to ignore the activity.
During our interview, the woman stated that she could not recall the
identity of the ballwalker because she "was too embarrassed to look
at his face." She did clearly recall there was more than one ball-
walker and the captain took no action.
One admitted ballwalker stated to us that he ballwalked with five
other aviators on a "dare." Initially the five aviators, after agreeing
to ball walk, stood in a corner of a crowded suite facing away from
the other men and women. Subsequently, they began to mingle with
the crowd individually introducing themselves to women in the room
in an effort to see whether women would notice the ballwalking. The
officer expressed to us his surprise that most of the people did not
even notice that the men had their testicles exposed.
Another interviewee described a similar scene from an observer's
viewpoint. He stated he looked into the VF-124 suite and was
shocked to notice that about 10 of the men were exposing their gen-
itals. The individuals were milling around the area as if nothing un-
usual was happening. There were numerous women in the suite at
the time who were not paying any attention to the men exposing
themselves. The witness stated he could not believe what the men
were doing and was appalled at their behavior.
A Navy captain told us he witnessed male officers exposing their
genitals while in the Philippines and Korea. He went on to say that
"this activity is OK for officers to do as long as there are not enlisted
or outsiders present." When questioned as to whether he thought the
activity was appropriate for officers, he said, "yes" under the above
circumstances. He added, "If done in public, then it would not be
appropriate."
There were several instances in which individual aviators exposed
their penises as well as their testicles at Tailhook '91. Those in-
[64]
Indecent Exposure
stances did not differ significantly from the ballwalking incidents
except on one occasion. In that instance, three female university
students entered a suite close to the elevator (either room 302, 303
or 304). A male exposed himself to the women while he was stand-
ing against a wall talking to two other males. When the women en-
tered the suite, one of the males reached down and grabbed his
friend's exposed genitals, shook them as he looked toward the
women, and said, "Hey, ladies have you ever seen anything like this
before?" One of the women stated she was shocked and could not
believe what she had just seen and heard. She and her friends quickly
left the suite. We determined that that type of exposure also occurred
at Tailhook '90. One witness told us that during Tailhook '90 she
saw a man in the patio area with his penis exposed and a "smiley
face" drawn on his penis in red ink.
In several other instances, the investigators obtained photographs
showing aviators posing for the cameras while they ball walked. One
female witness told us that her girlfriend coaxed several aviators to
expose themselves so the girlfriend could get a picture. Later, the
woman compiled a photograph album of Tailhook '91. There was
also an instance where an officer asked to borrow a woman's camera.
When the woman later had the film developed, she discovered a pho-
tograph of a penis among the pictures.
I 65]
Section VIII
Other Improper Activity
A. Leg Shaving
Over 200 witnesses told us they observed leg shaving at the 1991
symposium. This activity occurred on the third floor during Tailhook
'91 and involved the shaving of women's legs and pubic areas by
male aviators. Our investigation disclosed that leg shaving has been
an element of unit parties in the Navy for years, and that the "shav-
ing booth" has been a fixture at Tailhook conventions. An estimated
50 women had their legs shaved during the 1991 weekend. We inter-
viewed 10 of these women, 3 were naval officers.
Most of the leg shaving activity at Tailhook '91 occurred in the
YAW- 110 suite.* A banner measuring approximately 10 feet long
and 2 feet wide reading, "FREE LEG SHAVES!" was posted on the
sliding glass doors of the VAW-1 10 suite in plain sight of large por-
tions of the pool patio. t The suite participants assembled their
"booth" adjacent to the sliding glass doors so as to be visible from
the patio. The "booth" consisted of a chair (for the woman being
shaved), an equipment table, and a stool for the two male naval of-
ficers from the suite who performed the shaving. According to the
witnesses and the officers involved, the leg shaving was a rather
elaborate ritual that included the use of hot towels and baby oil, as
well as the massaging of the woman's legs and feet. The entire proc-
ess took between 30 and 45 minutes per shave. Other activities often
accompanied leg shaving. For example, officers in the VR-57 suite
reportedly licked females' legs with their tongues to ensure "quality
control."
Several witnesses observed nudity in conjunction with leg shav-
ing. Three instances were reported where women exposed their
breasts while being shaved in the VAW-1 10 suite. Witnesses related
♦Isolated instances of leg shaving were also reported to have occurred in the
VR-57 suite.
tThe banner was also used at the 1990 symposium.
[67]
The Tailhook Report
that some women wore only underwear or bikinis during leg shaving,
or pulled up their shorts or underwear to expose the areas they
wanted shaved. Other witnesses reported that any woman who chose
to have her legs shaved above her knees was offered a towel with
which to cover her lap. One uncorroborated witness reported seeing
a female naval officer having her legs shaved while wearing her
"whites."
Women's pubic areas were sometimes shaved as well in what was
referred to as a "bikini shave." In one instance, according to wit-
nesses, a woman entered the VAW-1 10 suite on Saturday evening and
requested a leg shave. As the woman was being shaved, she removed
her top and told the officers that if the audience wanted to see more
of her exposed, she wanted money. A few of the witnesses identified
the woman as a stripper who performed in another suite. After she
received money, she removed her shorts and requested a bikini
shave. The woman was wearing no undergarments. The officer then
shaved the woman's pubic area. After this the woman stood up in
the chair, modeled the shave for the assembled crowd, dressed, and
left the area.
These actions were witnessed by numerous onlookers within the
suite, as well as those on the pool patio who were viewing the shav-
ing through the sliding glass doors of the suite. Officers from nearby
suites or those standing on the pool patio reported that a noticeable
commotion was caused by the crowd peering into the suite, with
screaming and banging on the windows when the officers inside the
suite feigned closing the curtains.
None of the women who participated in the leg shaving claimed
to have been forced into that activity, although two women, includ-
ing a female Navy officer, reported being badgered repeatedly by
suite occupants before consenting to have their legs shaved. An of-
ficer reported that naval officers loudly encouraged the women to
have their legs shaved above the knees. One officer admitted asking
women to have their legs shaved and identified another officer who
was involved.
A number of senior naval officers, including several flag officers,
knew of the leg shaving. The VAW-1 10 CO told us that he learned
that leg shaving was to be featured in the suite just prior to the com-
mencement of the symposium. He stated that he directed the officers
performing the leg shaves to shave only legs. Although the CO's
statements were corroborated by some witnesses, the officers in-
volved in the leg shaving as well as some squadron members contend
[68]
Other Improper Activity
that the CO did not provide those instructions and, in fact, was aware
that leg shaving would be featured in the VAW-1 10 suite.
B. "Belly/Navel Shots''
The terms "belly shots" and "navel shots" describe the practice of
drinking alcohol (typically tequila) out of people's navels. Incidents
involving the exchange of belly shots between male and female of-
ficers and between male officers and female civilians at Tailhook '91
reportedly occurred in either the VF-124 or the VAW-1 10 suite.*
Witnesses and participants reported that three male officers drank
belly shots from the navel of a female officer. This occurred in the
VAW-1 10 suite on the same night the female officer had her legs
shaved by two of the male officers. The female officer reported that
a few of the women who participated in belly shots wore short
dresses and no undergarments and exposed themselves while doing
belly shots. Other witnesses reported male officers laying on a table
while women drank alcohol from the men's navels.
C. Pornography
Several squadron hospitality suites featured pornography. Witnesses
described various types of pornography ranging from "soft core" to
"hard core" videos and slides. A few suites simply used the Hilton
Hotel "pay for view" television to rent adult movies, which were
then played on the suite's television set. Other squadrons used adult
videotapes and, in at least one instance, adult-oriented slides. The
VF-124 suite was reported to have displayed hard core pornographic
movies on the walls of the suite at various times, including during a
live strip show performed by two paid strippers on Saturday night.
Other squadrons known to have shown adult-oriented videos were
VX-4 and Top Gun. The MAWTS-1 squadron reportedly inter-
spersed a few adult-oriented slides throughout its squadron's aviation
slide show.
♦Witnesses reported that drinking alcohol from a member of the opposite sex's
navel occurred more often at the 1990 Tailhook convention. In 1990, belly shots
were reportedly exchanged in the VAW-1 10 suite and on the pool deck. In fact,
one officer reported seeing 1 2 to 20 men drink alcohol from a particular female
officer's navel at the 1990 convention.
[ 69 ]
The Tailhook Report
Films and slides were not shown on a continuous basis but, rather,
intermittently by squadron members. Additionally, some squadrons
displayed wall posters of nude or scantily clad females.
D. Chicken Fights
Dozens of witnesses stated they observed "chicken fights" in the
Hilton Hotel pool. These chicken fights involved women sitting on
the shoulders of male aviators in the swimming pool and attempting
to remove the bathing suit tops of other women. By all accounts, the
activity was totally consensual. Although witnesses related that the
breasts of several women were exposed, no evidence was found that
any of the women were naval officers. Similarly, no evidence was
found that any of the male aviators removed women's bathing suits.
We also noted that many of the witnesses' accounts appear to involve
two women who were civilians from the San Diego area.
E. "Butt Biting''
Another type of assaultive behavior that occurred on the third floor
of the Hilton Hotel during Tailhook '91 involved individuals biting
attendees on the buttocks. That activity was commonly referred to
by witnesses as "butt biting," or "sharking." The origin of butt
biting at Tailhook is unknown, but one Marine major reported that,
in his squadron, "sharking" was a common activity between males
and females dating back about 20 years. He further explained the
activity was normally consensual and if the activity was not con-
sented to by an individual, that individual was no longer subjected to
the butt biting. The major opined that butt biting is no longer widely
practiced because it is now considered socially unacceptable. Three
officers and one civilian stated that butt biting is sometimes engaged
in on a consensual basis at naval officers' clubs. Two of those officers
acknowledged they had personally participated in such activity.
Those and other witnesses referred to butt biting as "butt rodeo,"
whereby the biter clasps onto another person's buttocks until he or
she is shaken loose by the person bitten.
In regard to nonconsensual, assaultive behavior, eight individuals
(seven females and one male), including four officers, a suite cock-
tail waitress, a Tailhook Association employee, an aviator's girl-
[ 70]
Other Improper Activity
friend, and a UNLV student, reported they were forcibly bitten on
the buttocks at Tailhook '91. For the most part, male officers at the
Tailhook convention bit the buttocks of female officers and civilians.
However, at least three instances of civilian females biting males on
the buttocks were reported. At least two of the individuals bitten
reported they were bitten twice by the same individual. Some of the
women bitten reported that the bites resulted in bruises to their but-
tocks.
The majority of the butt biting incidents reportedly occurred on
Thursday night, although a few incidents reportedly took place on
Friday and Saturday nights. Those assaults occurred in various lo-
cations on the third floor, including the pool patio, the VMFAT-101 ,
the VA-128, the VFA-125, and the CNATRA suites, and outside the
MAWTS-1 suite.
With respect to individuals responsible for that activity, a foreign
exchange officer assigned to the VMFAT-101 was described and
identified as the most frequent perpetrator. When interviewed, the
officer said that he was heavily intoxicated while at Tailhook '91 and
that he did not recall biting women on the buttocks. However, he
noted that he received formal counseling and a letter of reprimand
from his embassy as a result of his activities at Tailhook '91 .
Our investigation disclosed that two Navy commanders and two
Navy flight surgeons also engaged in butt biting. One of the com-
manders and both flight surgeons had reportedly bitten people on the
buttocks while streaking through crowded areas.
Three other types of biting incidents were also reported. A woman
was bitten on the ankle and two male officers were bitten by other
male officers during fights. In one fight, an officer was bitten on the
neck. In the other, the officer was bitten on the ear. Witnesses re-
ported that both officers required medical attention.
F. ''Zapping"
* 'Zapping" is an activity often associated with the gauntlet in the
third-floor hallway at Tailhook '91. That activity involved placing
stickers imprinted with a squadron logo on people (usually women)
to symbolize the presence of a particular squadron. A retired officer
explained that zapping originated years ago and that Marine Corps
and Navy officers zapped aircraft from different squadrons visiting
their respective bases. According to the retired officer, that ulti-
[ 7/ 1
The Tailhook Report
mately led to indiscriminate zapping. Zapping women at Tailhook
has reportedly occurred since 1985.
Almost 240 Tailhook '91 attendees reported they were familiar
with the practice of zapping. Those individuals either engaged in,
witnessed, or heard about zapping. Many, though they did not wit-
ness zapping firsthand, were aware of it as a result of observing
stickers affixed to people. Eleven male officers and one male civilian
admitted placing squadron stickers on women at Tailhook '91. Most
of the officers who admitted zapping women maintained that the
activity was consensual and the women either asked for the sticker
or the officer had asked for the women's permission prior to zapping.
Some reported they zapped women over their clothing and in areas
of the women's bodies other than the breasts, buttocks, or crotch.
One officer told us he was initially directed to zap a woman on the
buttocks by an unknown superior officer, and he subsequently
zapped several women.
Dozens of women, including a commander, a lieutenant com-
mander, two lieutenants, an ensign, an Air Force captain, and a staff
sergeant, as well as a male hotel security officer, reported they were
zapped. A majority of the attendees who were zapped reported they
were not offended or upset by the "zaps." They were either zapped
by friends, were asked for permission prior to the zapping, or were
not even aware they had been zapped until they later found stickers
on clothing.
Three women, however, including a female commander, reported
they were zapped in private areas while traversing the hallway. One
of the women stated that when she took umbrage at the attempts to
zap her on the breasts and buttocks, the men in the hallway then
started throwing the stickers at her. Another woman reported that as
she was passing through the gauntlet, men lifted her skirt, ripped her
blouse, and zapped her in the crotch and on her breasts. Two suite
waitresses reported that men in the suite continued to zap them even
though they repeatedly asked them to stop.
Several incidents of indecent exposure in conjunction with zap-
ping were reported. All of the instances involved women exposing
either their breasts, buttocks, and/or pubic areas for the purpose of
collecting stickers. One of the more notable incidents occurred out
on the pool patio on Friday night. A witness reported that a male
aviator walked up to a female who was sitting on another male's lap
and asked if he could put a zapper on her breast. The woman re-
[ 72 ]
Other Improper Activity
sponded, "Sure," lifted up her top, and was zapped on her breast
by the male. According to the witness, another male aviator then
approached the same woman and asked to place a zapper on her
other breast. The woman agreed and a sticker was applied to her
other breast.
In another incident, a civilian Government employee reported
that, while he was standing on the pool deck Saturday with a zapper
in his hand, he was approached by a woman who asked him to zap
her anywhere he desired. The man placed the sticker on her breast,
over her clothing. Another man with a sticker then approached the
woman. The woman pulled up her skirt, revealing her pantyhose,
and told the other man to zap her in the crotch. The other man
obliged. After zapping her, the second man said that was the place
to zap women and the woman agreed. The first man then asked if the
woman wanted him to also zap her in the crotch. The woman re-
sponded affirmatively and the man removed the sticker he had earlier
affixed to her breast and placed it on her crotch.
Additional accounts of women exposing their "already zapped"
breasts were reportedly witnessed in the hallway, in some of the
suites (VA-128, MAG- 11 /Rhino, VAQ-129), and on the pool deck
and patios. Officers related that a woman walked into the VA-128
suite, lifted her shirt to reveal the five or six zappers covering her
bare breasts, and asked officers in the suite to rearrange the stickers
for her. Witnesses also reported a few instances on the pool patio of
women exposing their buttocks for zaps. Similarly, it was reported
that strippers displayed zaps while performing in the VF-124 and the
VMFA(AW)-242 suites. A photograph taken during a stripper's per-
formance in the VMFA(AW)-242 suite depicts a nude stripper with a
VMFA(AW)-242 squadron zapper on her buttocks. The stripper is
shown straddling a squadron member as he lies on the floor looking
up toward the stripper.
In a separate incident, an officer admitted paying a stripper $20
to display a VF-126 decal on each breast. A few witnesses reported
seeing women wearing zappers over their clothing and opined that
the women were collecting the zaps. Most witnesses agreed that
many women did not object to the zaps, and, in some instances, even
solicited zaps or applied zaps to themselves. In one instance, an
officer told us that his CO instructed him to bring the zappers to
Tailhook '91.
[ 73 }
The'Tailhook Report
G. Public and Paid Sex
While consensual sexual activity was not the focus of the investiga-
tion, such information was revealed during questioning about other
areas under investigation. There were a number of reported instances
of public or paid sex. In all instances, the activities were willingly
engaged in by the participants.
Prostitution, while legal in some counties in Nevada, is not legal
within the city limits of Las Vegas. Several of the suites engaged
strippers to perform during the evening hours on Friday and Saturday
night. In some instances, the strippers engaged in paid oral sex with
members of the squadron. In other cases, strippers were hired to
perform at bachelor parties or other "private" parties in which sex-
ual acts were performed with suite members.
Witnesses described incidents in which couples had consensual
sexual intercourse or oral sex in the suites, with other persons watch-
ing. Other witnesses observed oral sex or sexual intercourse in the
pool patio area or near the tennis courts.
Such activities serve to illustrate the general atmosphere of de-
bauchery prevailing in the area of the third floor at the time the in-
decent assaults occurred. Further, certain activities such as sodomy
and conduct unbecoming an officer violate the UCMJ.
[74]
Section IX
Security
In light of the many indecent assaults and other inappropriate behav-
ior at Tailhook '91, we reviewed the issue of hotel security as well
as the role played by the Tailhook Association.
A. Las Vegas Hilton Hotel
The Tailhook Association coordinated security requirements directly
with the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. The coordination was effected in
preparation of each year's symposium. The Hotel Security Depart-
ment is comprised of a director, various levels of supervisors, and
approximately 100 security officers. Each of the three shifts needed
to provide round-the-clock security is manned by approximately 23
officers. Those officers wear distinctive dark blue uniforms and are
normally posted in the hotel's casino and elsewhere within the hotel
property.
We found that security personnel had extensive knowledge relat-
ing to Tailhook '91 and had provided coverage at previous Tailhook
conventions.* Two security officers are associate members of the
Tailhook Association.
Hotel management recognized from past experience that addi-
tional security officers would be needed on the third floor, pool patio
and hallway areas to control crowds and limit damage to hotel prop-
erty. The additional coverage was achieved by paying overtime to
existing security staff. Officers assigned to those duties were not,
however, committed exclusively to Tailhook and frequently re-
sponded to other calls for assistance throughout the hotel.
Twelve hotel security officers identified as having patrolled the
third-floor area were interviewed. Interviews were conducted with
the cooperation of the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, t The hotel also pro-
Tailhoook conventions have been held at the Las Vegas Hilton on an annual
basis for 18 years.
fThroughout our investigation, the Hilton Hotel cooperated fully with us in
[75]
The Tailhook Report
vided us copies of the officers' written incident reports and security
blotters. From those sources we determined that several Tailhook
related incidents had been reported, including the following:
1 . Security officers stopped three aviators from carrying off a
wall lamp they had torn from a wall.
2. Security officers broke up a large crowd of aviators who
were chanting at a woman in an attempt to encourage the
woman to expose her breasts.
3. Security officers stopped an intoxicated naked male who
had walked out of room 302* onto the pool patio. They
returned him to the room but made no effort to identify the
individual or take further action.
4. Security officers responded to incidents involving public ur-
ination, physical altercations, and aviators expectorating
ignited alcohol. No effort was made to identify the individ-
uals involved in those activities.
5. A security officer reported that while he was walking with
a woman on the pool patio, the woman was grabbed on the
buttocks. The woman verbally confronted her attacker but
the security officer, at the woman's request, took no action.
6. The most significant incident reported by security related to
an intoxicated female in the third-floor hallway. According
to two of the security officers, they heard a commotion,
witnessed a pair of pants being thrown up in the air from a
crowd of men in the hallway, and saw the crowd quickly
disperse into various squadron suites. They observed a fe-
male naked from the waist down and lying on the floor of
the hallway. The security officers assisted her and advised
the Chairman of the Tailhook Association Committee of the
incident warning him that improper conduct by attendees
arranging interviews of hotel staff and in providing all required hotel records
relating to Tailhook '91 .
*Room 302 served as the VAQ-129 hospitality suite.
[ 76]
Security
had to cease or the hotel would be forced to close down all
activities in the hallway.
7. The only other assault-related incident reported by hotel se-
curity involved two women who had reported they were as-
saulted in the third floor hallway.* The security officers told
us the women reported the matter to the Las Vegas Police
but had been referred back to hotel security because the
women refused to return to the third floor and attempt to
identify their attackers.
The security officers told us that, excluding the aforenoted incidents,
no women reported being assaulted nor did any of the security offi-
cers witness any assaults. Relatedly, no victims, with the exception
of victim 64, told us they were helped by security during or after
their assaults. The security officers did, however, express their belief
that their efforts to maintain order and to act effectively had been
impaired as a result of code words and hand signals used by the
aviators to announce the approach of security officers.
Security officers told us they heard radio messages from officers
patrolling the third floor advising that gauntlets were forming in the
hallway and one security officer defined the gauntlet as men "grab-
bing women in the hallway." Security officers assigned to the third-
floor area told us they cleared the hallway whenever they saw that
type of activity.
Witnesses told us that many assaults occurred in the presence of
the hotel security staff and those officers failed to act in the absence
of a specific complaint by the victims. One witness stated that men
lined the hallway against the walls and closed ranks around women
attempting to traverse the corridor. The witness observed women
being grabbed on the buttocks and being picked up by the crowd.
The witness told us he observed "two Hilton Hotel security guards
standing against the wall near room 317, who appeared to be just
observing the events in the hallway." The witness, who also saw the
attack on the 18-year-old, as described previously, further stated,
"The security guards made no attempt to come to the assistance of
any of the women who were being subjected to the gauntlet' ' except
for the young woman who was partially disrobed.
These are the only two women who stated they had reported their assaults to
hotel security.
[ 771
The Tailhook Report
Similarly, another witness told us he witnessed several women
being attack in the gauntlet and that a man in uniform, whom he
believed to be a hotel security officer, was 4 4 watching the gauntlet
and doing nothing other than talking on the radio."
Yet another witness reported she saw approximately 10 women
attacked in the gauntlet over a short period of time. He noted that
although the women were protesting their treatment, "There were
two security guards or police officers standing there laughing while
watching the assaults."
Finally, several witnesses reported seeing hotel security officers
in the hospitality suites watching strip shows and pornographic mov-
ies. One Navy civilian employee noted that he found it ludicrous that
hotel security officers chased streakers on the pool patio but did not
intervene during the gauntlet.
B. Tailhook Association
The Tailhook Association maintains a committee to work with hotel
staff. In part, they coordinate security issues relating to Tailhook
attendees. As agreed between the hotel and the Association, com-
mittee members were provided radio pagers by the Association. Pa-
ger numbers as well as respective guest room telephone numbers of
committee members were furnished to the hotel security staff to en-
sure that committee members could respond quickly to any problem
or situation detected by the hotel security staff.
Committee members wore blue shirts imprinted with the Tailhook
Association logo. When interviewed, the Tailhook Association com-
mittee members generally denied knowledge of any assault and
stated they were reasonably effective in controlling third-floor activ-
ities.
Witnesses told us the committee members did not intercede on
behalf of the assault victims and were frequently seen watching strip
shows in the suites. Hotel security officers told us the committee
members were ineffective and did not respond to calls for assistance
by the hotel security staff. One hotel security officer told us he over-
heard a senior Tailhook committee member comment that he was
going to turn off his pager and make himself unavailable if inappro-
priate activity occurred.
We found the relationship between the Tailhook Association com-
mittee members and the hotel was such that both parties approached
[ 78]
Security
the security function simply as an issue of containment. Neither
party sought to control improper activities unless severe bodily harm
or significant property damage appeared imminent. The attendees
paid for damages to hotel property.
The general opinion stated by countless witnesses was that, within
the confines of the Tailhook convention, the aviators could act with
impunity.
179]
Section X
Officer Attitudes
Leadership Issues
and
A. Officer Attitudes
A discussion of the attitudes of the officers in attendance is central
to an understanding of the misconduct at Tailhook '91. Until this
point, we have focused on "what" happened with little discussion
or commentary as to "why" events at the convention degenerated to
a point where indecent assaults, indecent exposure, and excessive
alcohol consumption became commonplace.
Navy and Marine Corps aviation officers are well educated, phys-
ically fit, technically proficient and well trained. Many are Naval
Academy graduates or alumni of other top colleges and universities
and certainly have the education and background to recognize soci-
etal issues such as sexual harassment. Yet some of these individuals
acted with disregard toward individual rights and failed by a wide
margin to conduct themselves as officers and gentlemen in the
Armed Forces of the United States.
Although there were approximately 4,000 naval officers at Tail-
hook '91, and significant evidence of serious misconduct involving
117 officers has been developed, the number of individuals involved
in all types of misconduct or other inappropriate behavior was more
widespread than these figures would suggest. Furthermore, several
hundred other officers were aware of the misconduct and chose to
ignore it. We believe that many of these officers deliberately lied or
sought to mislead our investigators in an effort to protect themselves
or their fellow officers. On the other hand, there were hundreds of
other officers who, when questioned, gave full and truthful accounts
of their actions and observations while at Tailhook '91. Similarly,
there were several hundred officers who spent their time at Tailhook
'91 attending symposium events, visiting tourist sites, and otherwise
occupying themselves in places other than the third floor. Unfortu-
[8i ]
The Tailhook Report
nately, the reputations of those officers, who are guilty of no wrong-
doing, have been tarnished by the actions of their fellow officers.
Officers who engaged in misconduct gave a variety of reasons for
their behavior at Tailhook '91. Perhaps the most common rationale
was that such behavior was "expected" of junior officers and that
Tailhook was comprised of "traditions" built on various lore.* An-
other reason given by many attendees was that their behavior was
somehow justified or at least excusable, because they were "return-
ing heroes," from Desert Storm. Many attendees, especially
younger officers, viewed Tailhook as a means of celebrating the
United States' victory over Iraqi forces. Numerous officers ex-
pressed their belief that Tailhook was a type of "free-fire zone"
where they could celebrate without regard to rank or ordinary deco-
rum. As one Navy officer opined, "It was condoned early in some
of the senior officers' careers. It was probably condoned back when
Tailhook started . . . And I imagine at one time, when this first— the
thing started, they were the elite, they thought they could [do] any-
thing they wanted in Naval aviation and not have to answer the ques-
tions we're answering today about it."
Many officers told us they believed they could act free of normal
constraints because Tailhook was an accepted part of a culture in
some ways separate from the main stream of the Armed Forces.
They stated that the career progression for naval aviators is such that
most do not bear the leadership responsibilities of commanding a
unit until they approach the 10-year point in their careers. (Aviation
officers do not follow the career progression of command of increas-
ingly larger units from the outset of their Military Service. Unlike
Army ground units, where the newest second lieutenant is trained to
be a unit leader, aviators for the most part are viewed as unit mem-
bers for the initial portion of their careers. )t
♦Throughout our investigation, witnesses told us remarkable incidents at past
Tailhook conventions. Incidents related by witnesses included a high-ranking
Navy civilian official dancing with strippers in hospitality suites, the throwing
of flaming mannequins from rooftops, food fights, earlier gauntlets and strip
shows, an admiral taxiing an aircraft to the hotel, another admiral entering a
banquet on horseback and the use of a chainsaw to demolish a wall separating
two suites. While some of these incidents were more prankish than improper,
they combined to form the aura of "anything goes" which was the predominant
attitude expressed by naval aviators regarding the annual Tailhook conventions.
t Indeed, during our interviews of them, many senior officers repeatedly re-
[82 ]
A T'T ITUDES AND LEADERSHIP ISSUES
Some senior officers blamed the younger officers for rowdy be-
havior and cited a "Top Gun" mentality. They expressed their belief
that many young officers had been influenced by the image of naval
aviators portrayed in the movie "Top Gun." The officers told us that
the movie fueled misconceptions on the part of junior officers as to
what was expected of them and also served to increase the general
awareness of naval aviation and glorify naval pilots in the eyes of
many young women.
One female Navy commander opined that the 1991 Tailhook con-
vention was different in some ways from previous years, in part
because of the recent Gulf War and the congressional inquiries re-
garding women in combat.
The heightened emotions from the Gulf War were also
enhanced with the forthcoming . . . downsizing of the
military, so that you had people feeling very threat-
ened for their job security and to more than just their
jobs, their lifestyle. So you had people worried about
what was coming down with the future. You had quite
a bit of change. You had people that had been to the
Gulf War. You had alcohol. You had a convention that
had a lot of ingredients for any emotional whirlwind
of controversy.
She went on to say that these potentially explosive ingredients com-
bined at Tailhook '91, and resulted in "... an animosity in this
Tailhook that existed that was telling the women that 'We don't have
any respect for you now as humans.' " The animosity, in this offi-
cer's opinion, was focused on women:
"This was the woman that was making you, you
know, change your ways. This was the woman that
was threatening your livelihood. This was the woman
ferred to the aviation lieutenants and lieutenant commanders as "the kids." To
us, their use of this term, in context, symbolized an attitude where irresponsible
behavior and conduct were accepted manifestations of high-spirited youth. The
attitude is a major departure from the traditions of the ground forces, where
newly commissioned second lieutenants control the lives of their platoon mem-
bers and are expected by their superiors to demonstrate the personal qualities of
a leader.
r 5? 1
The Tailhook Report
that was threatening your lifestyle. This was the
woman that wanted to take your spot in that combat
aircraft."
We found that all those factors were at play among the Tailhook
'91 attendees. One rationale, that of the returning heroes, empha-
sizes that naval aviation is among the most dangerous and stressful
occupations in the world. During Desert Storm, for example, the
U.S. Navy suffered six fatalities, all of whom were aviation officers.
We also found that the "live for today for tomorrow you may die"
attitude expressed by many officers is a fact of life for many aviation
officers. Over 30 officers died in the one-year period following Tail-
hook '91 as a result of military aviation-related accidents. Others
were found to have died in nonmilitary plane accidents, in vehicle
crashes and, in at least one incident, by suicide. Although none of
these factors justify the activities at Tailhook, they help illuminate
the attitudes of many attendees.
Many officers likened Tailhook to an overseas deployment, ex-
plaining that naval officers traditionally live a spartan existence
while on board ship and then party while on liberty in foreign ports.
Dozens of officers cited excessive drinking, indecent exposure, and
visits to prostitutes as common activities while on liberty. That was
acknowledged by virtually all interviewees, from junior officers
through flag officers. The most frequently heard comment in that
regard was "what happens overseas, stays overseas." Officers said
that activities such as adultery, drunkenness, and indecent exposure
which occur overseas are not to be discussed or otherwise revealed
once the ship returns to home port.
A similar attitude carried over to the annual Tailhook conventions.
Countless officers told us it was common knowledge that "what hap-
pened at Tailhook stayed at Tailhook" and there were unwritten rules
to enforce the policy. Frequently cited was the "no wives, no cam-
eras" rule, which dated back to the earliest Tailhook reunions. Re-
portedly few officers took their wives and only a small number of
women attended. Witnesses told us that at earlier Tailhooks many of
the women in attendance were prostitutes. As years went by, how-
ever, women began to play a larger role as officers in naval aviation.
Civilian women also began attending Tailhook conventions as a
means of meeting naval pilots. The increase in the number of women
attendees is supported by the fact that we were able to identify over
470 female attendees, many of whom were interviewed. Officers
[84]
Attitudes and Leadership Issues
told us that the improper activity discussed in this report was nothing
new but had merely come to light as a result of the influx of female
attendees. The officers frequently opined that gauntlet participants
could not or would not differentiate between the groupies and pros-
titutes who had been a part of Tailhook for many years, and other
women who attended Tailhook '91.
Despite the 4 4 no cameras" policy, our investigation collected
more than 800 photographs, some of which depict indecent expo-
sure. It is interesting to note that approximately two-thirds of the
photographs were provided to us by female civilians and that nearly
half of the remaining pictures were furnished by female naval offi-
cers.
One disturbing aspect of the attitudes exhibited at Tailhook '91
was the blatant sexism displayed by some officers toward women.
That attitude is best exemplified in a T-shirt worn by several male
officers. The back of their shirt reads "WOMEN ARE PROP-
ERTY," while the front reads "HE MAN WOMEN HATER'S
CLUB." The shirts, as well as demeaning posters and lapel pins,*
expressed an attitude held by some male attendees that women were
at Tailhook to 4 ' serve "t the male attendees and that women were not
welcome within naval aviation.
During the course of our investigation, an incident involving sex-
ual harassment came to our attention. One of the squadron hospital-
ity suites provided the forum for an informal job interview between
a Navy captain and a civilian female. The woman had applied for a
*Some officers wore pins stating "NOT IN MY SQUADRON." This is an ap-
parent parody of the Navy's "Not in My Navy" slogan which is intended to
express the Navy prohibition of sexual harrassment against women. Some offi-
cers told us that the pins signified contempt for women in naval aviation and,
specifically the desire to maintain the combat exclusion with respect to women.
Other officers told us that the pins merely expressed the desire to keep the F-14
aircraft rather than the F-18 replacement planned by the Navy.
fOne squadron called a UNLV official and requested the telephone numbers of
all UNLV sorority sisters. When she refused to furnish the information, the
officer told her that she was "denying" the girls the "opportunity to serve their
country." The UNLV official reported that the officer was rude, resulting in her
abrupt termination of the call. She also reported that "fliers" soliciting girls to
attend Tailhook '91 were later placed in all UNLV sorority mailboxes. The of-
ficial identified the invitation described in Section V of this report as a copy of
one of the fliers.
[ 85 ]
The Tailhook Report
GM-15 position within the captain's command. The captain was the
hiring official for the position. Our investigation determined that the
captain made numerous sexually oriented comments to the woman,
questioned her sexual preferences and also directed her to stand up
and turn around in front of him so as to enable him to view her
buttocks. The incident was witnessed by other naval officers, as well
as a civilian. Details of this matter have been referred under separate
cover to Navy authorities.
B. The Failure of Leadership
One of the most difficult issues we sought to address was accounta-
bility, from a leadership standpoint, for the events at Tailhook '91.
The various types of misconduct that took place in the third-floor
corridor and in the suites, if not tacitly approved, were nevertheless
allowed to continue by the leadership of the naval aviation commu-
nity and the Tailhook Association.
The military is a hierarchical organization, which requires and is
supposed to ensure accountability at every level. As one moves up
through the chain of command, the focus on accountability narrows
to fewer individuals. At the highest levels of the command structure,
accountability becomes less dependent on actual knowledge of the
specific actions of subordinates. At some point, ''the buck stops
here" applies. In the case of Tailhook '91, the buck stops with the
senior leaders of naval aviation.
Tailhook '91 is the culmination of a long-term failure of leader-
ship in naval aviation. What happened at Tailhook '91 was destined
to happen sooner or later in the "can you top this" atmosphere that
appeared to increase with each succeeding convention. Senior avia-
tion leadership seemed to ignore the deteriorating standards of be-
havior and failed to deal with the increasing disorderly, improper,
and promiscuous behavior.
Throughout our investigation, officers told us that Tailhook '91 was
not significantly different from earlier conventions with respect to out-
rageous behavior. Most of the officers we spoke to said that excesses
seen at Tailhook '91 such as excessive consumption of alcohol, strippers,
indecent exposure, and other inappropriate behavior were accepted by
senior officers simply because those things had gone on for years. In-
deed, heavy drinking, the gauntlet, and widespread promiscuity were
[86]
Attitudes and Leadership Issues
part of the allure of Tailhook conventions to a significant number of the
Navy and Marine Corps attendees.
In seeking to identify the measure of responsibility properly borne by
senior officers, it would be unfair to focus solely on the senior officers
who attended Tailhook '91 . Some measure of responsibility is also borne
by other senior officers, some still on active duty and others now retired
who attended previous Tailhook conventions and permitted the excesses
of the annual conventions to continue unchecked.
As we reported in Tailhook '91 , Part 1 , the nature of the misconduct
at the annual conventions was well-known to senior aviation leaders.
However, although aware of the activities and atmosphere, they were
incapable of dealing with the increasingly indulgent behavior. The ef-
forts taken to control their subordinates at Tailhook, through the years,
were sometimes effective but only for limited periods. In our view, by
September 1991, both individually and collectively, the senior leaders
of naval aviation were unwilling to take the kinds of measures necessary
to effectively end the types of misconduct that they had every reason to
expect would occur at Tailhook '91 .
Moreover, the misconduct at Tailhook '91 went far beyond the 4 'treat-
ment of women' ' issues for which the Navy had enacted new policies in
the years preceding Tailhook '91. The Tailhook traditions (the gauntlet,
ball walking, leg shaving, mooning, streaking, and lewd sexual conduct)
so deviated from the standards of behavior the nation expects of its
military officers that the repetition of this behavior year after year raises
serious questions about the senior leadership of the Navy. We found a
great disparity between espoused Navy policies regarding consumption
of alcohol and treatment of women and the actual conduct of significant
numbers of those officers at Tailhook '91 .
We were repeatedly told that such behavior was widely condoned by
Navy civilian and military leadership. Some senior officers themselves
had participated in third-floor improprieties in previous years when they
were junior officers to the extent that certain offensive activities had
become a matter of tradition. For example, we found that officers,
including some field-grade officers, engaged in improper conduct such
as indecent exposure and physial contact with strippers.
In that regard, one Navy lieutenant told us, ". . . I don't think
that anybody saw anything that they felt hadn't happened in the past.
And so ... if it had been allowed to happen in the past, they'd just
let it go. They felt there was no reason to stop anything that they
hadn't (sic) seen before." Relatedly, a lieutenant commander stated:
4 4 And I think you have to say that aviators emulate those who pre-
[87]
The Tailhook Report
ceded them, and that Tailhooks that preceded them have legends of
their own, and young aviators are going to try to mimic those people
who are in a position to teach them and train them."
Another junior officer, who admitted to participating in the gauntlet,
told us, "If I thought that going around and goosing a few girls on the
breasts was going to create a national incident, do you think I would
have done that? We only did it because the party atmosphere seemed to
promote that. Admiral Dunleavy and the rest of his cronies who go to
Hook every year, man, they must be wearing some blinders, because it
has been happening every single year that I know of. "
Senior officers, on the other hand, referred to their perception that
the third floor was somehow the domain of the younger officers.
Senior officers, including an admiral, told us there was a lack of
respect exhibited toward older officers by some junior officers and
noted their belief that they would have been powerless to act suc-
cessfully in attempting to stop third-floor improprieties.
An example of the lack of respect is illustrated in an anecdote
related by a Navy lieutenant. He told us that on Saturday night at
about 10:00 p.m. he and two other lieutenants were waiting in line
to use a suite rest room. An admiral tried to cut in front of them.
The lieutenant challenged the admiral who reminded the officers that
he was an admiral (0-8). The lieutenant (0-3) objected to the admir-
al's attempt to pull rank and told the admiral that the three 0-3s
added up to an 0-9 and the admiral should go to the back of the line.
Many factors contributed to a feeling of resentment by junior of-
ficers toward higher ranking officers. One aspect related to a percep-
tion that, despite their success in Desert Storm, junior officers would
be adversely affected by the anticipated drawdown of troops. Yet
another factor related to us was the squadron officers' use of their
personal funds to pay for the suites, alcohol, and entertainment. Flag
officers and many of the Navy captains and Marine Corps colonels
in attendance did not help fund the third-floor activities. That fact,
together with the lack of uniforms and absence of any official Navy
participation with regard to squadron hospitality suites contributed
to a perception held by many attendees that the party was a private
one hosted by junior officers.
Numerous officers attributed the perception that they could act
with impunity to the uniqueness of the naval aviation community.*
*We found that aviation officers view themselves as unique. The perception is
based not only on their occupation but also on such matters as progression in
[ «« ]
Attitudes and Leadership Issues
They explained that aviators are used to working in a rank-neutral
environment, frequently addressing more senior officers by their pi-
lot "call signs" rather than by their rank. The witnesses also noted
that aviation officers are less rank conscious and, therefore, less in-
timidated by the presence of more senior officers.
The demarcation between junior and senior officers was further
blurred by the abundance of alcohol and nearly everyone's dressing
in T-shirts and shorts as opposed to Navy or Marine Corps uniforms.
As told to us by one officer, ". . . the. more you drink, the less
noticeable any ranks would be, from looking upward and looking
downward, you know."
Field-Grade Officers
We interviewed 331 field-grade officers who attended Tailhook '91 .*
A number of those officers were the commanders of squadrons
that hosted suites at the convention. Others had responsibility over
groups of squadrons represented at Tailhook '91 or had previously
commanded or been members of those squadrons. The field-grade
officers typically had completed more than 12 years of service and
many had more than 20 years of experience in naval aviation. A
large portion of the field-grade officers had attended prior Tailhook
conventions.
As indicated throughout the report there were isolated instances
in which field-grade officers sought to remedy or prevent acts of
misconduct; while in other instances, field- grade officers themselves
engaged in misconduct.
With respect to the squadron commanders who attended Tailhook
'91, we found similar patterns of behavior. Prior to Tailhook '91,
the squadron commanders had received letters from the Tailhook As-
sociation president warning them about underage drinking and the
"late-night gang mentality" that had occurred at prior conventions.
Some squadron commanders enforced proper conduct within their
rank and even their uniform. Aviation officers can frequently progress to the
rank of lieutenant commander without ever having been in command of a unit.
They are also distinguishable from other naval officers by their aviation wings
insignia and brown, rather than black, uniform shoes.
*This group consisted of 85 Navy captains, 7 Marine Corps colonels, 218 Navy
commanders, and 21 Marine Corps lieutenant colonels.
189]
The Tailhook Report
suites. Others chose to ignore events in their suites under the premise
that Tailhook '91 was a private function rather than an official Navy
activity. Several commanders told us they had difficulty in ensuring
proper decorum despite prohibitions they issued. In one instance, a
commander closed his unit's suite because of damage done to the
suite.*
The commanders who sought to forestall improper conduct at
Tailhook "91 nevertheless were unwilling or unable to take actions to
determine those responsible for the misconduct that actually took
place at Tailhook '91. We found no evidence that any commander
initiated any inquiry or took any disciplinary measures in the month
between the Las Vegas convention and the initiation of the NTS in-
vestigation into the assault on LT Coughlin. Further, even those
commanders who later told that their subordinates had violated their
orders regarding operation of the hospitality suites did nothing to
address the misconduct that they acknowledged to us.^
The Flag Officers
We interviewed each of the 30 active duty admirals, 2 active duty
Marine Corps generals and 3 Navy Reserve admirals who attended
Tailhook '91.$ We believe a discussion of the activities of the flag
officers at Tailhook '91 is necessary and relevant, as was the discus-
sion of the participation of Secretary of the Navy H. Lawrence
Garrett III, which was included in Tailhook '91, Part 1, in order to
provide the backdrop against which the misconduct of junior officers
occurred, as well as to assess their accountability.
*The details regarding activities in each of the 22 squadron hospitality suites
are set forth at Appendix E.
tThis failure is consistent with the inaction of many officers who told us they
witnessed assaults, indecent exposure, and other improprieties at Tailhook '91
and elected at that time not to intervene.
iBy rank, this group consisted of 2 admirals. 6 vice admirals. 1 lieutenant
general, 4 rear admirals Cupper half), 1 major general and 18 rear admirals
flower half). These numbers include officers selected for promotion prior to
Tailhook '91 (see Appendix Gj. A significant number of retired flag officers
also attended Tailhook '91. During our investigation, we spoke with 41 retired
admirals and 1 retired Marine Corps general who attended. Together, there were
nearly 80 flag officers, active, Reserve, and retired at Tailhook '91.
[90]
Attitudes and Leadership Issues
In interviewing the flag officers who attended Tailhook '91, we
attempted to determine which of them had specific knowledge of any
misconduct. For the most part, the flag officers participated in or
attended the scheduled symposium activities such as seminars,
sporting events, and dinners.* Of the 35 flag officers we interviewed.
28 told us that they visited the third floor on Friday or Saturday
night, or both nights, shortly after the conclusion of the evening
dinner. Most of the officers stated that they arrived on the third floor
between 9:30 and 10:00 p.m. Some flag officers told us they re-
mained only briefly while others stayed for up to several hours. Ac-
cording to their testimony, with the notable exception discussed at
length below, none of the flag officers, including those who spent
several hours on the third floor and adjoining patio, witnessed any
nudity or indecent exposure (including ball walking, streaking, or
mooning), nor any activity occurring during the gauntlet.
We interviewed VADM Richard M. Dunleavy, then the Assistant
Chief of Naval Operations (Air Warfare) during the investigation. t
In his initial interview, VADM Dunleavy denied having observed
both leg shaving and the gauntlet, even when confronted with infor-
mation we had obtained alleging that he observed leg shaving at
Tailhook '90, had made favorable comments about leg shaving to the
officers engaged in the activity, and had observed it again at Tail-
hook'91.
When we interviewed VADM Dunleavy the next day. he acknowl-
edged that he had encouraged leg shaving at Tailhook '91 based on
his favorable impression of the activity during the previous year's
convention. Further, he acknowledged knowing that strippers per-
formed during Tailhook '91 and prior conventions. Most signifi-
cantly, he acknowledged to us that he was aware of the existence of
the gauntlet and observed the activity that occurred during the gaunt-
let at Tailhook '91.
*A few of the flag officers did not attend the entire convention. For example,
the major general arrived at 12:00 noon on Thursday and left at 5:00 p.m. that
same day.
f During the Navy's initial investigations of Tailhook "91, the Assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve .Affairs) suspected that VADM Dun-
leavy may have had knowledge of the existence of the gaundet. The interv iew
of VADM Dunleavy by the Nav y was discussed in Tailhook '91, Part 1, p. 17.
VADM Dunleavy retired on July 1, 1992. A nomination for his retirement in
the grade of Vice Admiral was not acted on by the Senate prior to its
adjournment.
[91 1
The Tailhook Report
VADM Dunleavy told us that after the 1990 convention, he
learned that the term "gauntlet" was being used to identify a group
of young aviators who gathered along the walls in the third-floor
hallway where they groped women who passed through the corridor.
On Saturday night of the 1991 convention, he was on the third floor
and became aware that the gauntlet was forming. He further told us
that when he went into the third-floor hallway, he saw that it was
crowded and a commotion was occurring as the men * 'hooted and
hollered." He stated he heard men yelling "Show us your tits!" but
that he did not intervene because he believed he would not be heard
above the commotion and because the activities "appeared to be in
fun, rather than molestation." He stated that it was his impression at
the time that no one was upset and he believed that "they [women]
would not have gone down the hall if they did not like it."
We believe that VADM Dunleavy* s attitude toward leg shaving —
which was one of approval and encouragement — and, more signifi-
cantly, toward the gauntlet — which was one of tolerance— represents
a serious, individual failure to recognize the impropriety of these
activities and to take action to stop them.
We find ourselves in a serious dilemma with respect to what the
flag officers did not see. Although we obtained significant evidence
that misconduct occurred at Tailhook '91 on a widespread basis, flag
officers, according to their testimony, seemed to be relatively una-
ware of it. We are of the opinion that the majority of them are being
truthful in stating their lack of knowledge with respect to specific
acts of sexual misconduct. While we have reservations about the
categorical denials of some of the flag officers that they were com-
pletely unaware of any specific misconduct, especially w hen viewed
in light of their past experiences at prior Tailhook conventions, it
w ould be unfair for us to question the credibility of any one of them
in the absence of controverting evidence on this matter.
In addition to whatever specific knowledge any of the flag officers
may have had, it is our opinion that there w as general know ledge among
the Navy's senior aviation leadership of the inappropriate behavior that
had become commonplace on the third floor during annual Tailhook
conventions. In part, we base this opinion on the fact that 33 of the 35
flag officers who attended Tailhook '91 had attended prior Tailhook
conventions: mat 2 of the flag officers were past Tailhook Association
Presidents; and that all of the aviation flag officers w ere former squadron
commanders. Further, concern was expressed by flag officers over the
excesses at prior Tailhook conventions as early as 1985. Many of the
[92]
Attitudes and Leadership Issues
junior officers we interviewed told us that knowledge of the type of
misconduct which occured at Tailhook '91 was widespread throughout
the aviation community. Finally, we obtained eyewitness testimony that
one former high-ranking Navy civilian official engaged in inappropriate
activity with a stripper in front of junior officers at a prior Tailhook
convention, indicating that, at least in one instance, a senior official was
aware of and participated in the type of activities for which junior officers
are now being criticized.
[93]
Section XI
Conclusions
There was a serious breakdown of leadership at Tailhook '91. Mis-
conduct went far beyond the "treatment of women" issues for which
the Navy had enacted new policies in the years preceding Tailhook
'91. Tailhook "traditions" such as the gauntlet, ball walking, leg
shaving, mooning, streaking, and lewd sexual conduct significantly
deviated from the standards of behavior that the Nation expects of its
military officers. The disparity between the espoused Navy policies
regarding officer conduct and the actual conduct of significant num-
bers of officers at Tailhook '91 could not have been greater. Officers
who assaulted women, as well as those who engaged in improper
sexual behavior, knew that their actions would not be condoned un-
der any objective standard. These officers needed no "policemen at
the elbow" to warn them of the wrongful nature of their actions and
they, therefore, must bear a major portion of the blame.
Leaders in naval aviation, ranging from the squadron command-
ers to flag officers who tolerated a culture that engendered the mis-
conduct also bear a portion of the blame. The damage suffered
by the Navy as a result of Tailhook cannot be fully repaired until
the integrity of the Navy is restored, which, in turn, depends on the
integrity of each of its members. The senior officers must lead the
way in that endeavor. For the credibility of the Navy and Marine
Corps as institutions, each senior officer who attended Tailhook '91,
or previous Tailhook symposia, should consider the extent to which
he bears some personal responsibility for what occurred there and
how he can best serve the Navy and the Marine Corps in the future.
Navy Department leadership, military and civilian, will face
many difficult decisions as it comes to grips with the issues raised in
this report and the individual misconduct referrals that accompany
the report. Personal friendship, knowledge of past service and sac-
rifice by the officers involved, and a general reluctance to end or
adversely impact otherwise promising military careers will further
complicate the matter.
The Acting Secretary of the Navy has appointed two convening
[95]
The Tailhook Report
authorities, a Marine Corps lieutenant general and a Navy vice ad-
miral, who we expect will deal with the disciplinary and military
judicial aspects of this matter with dispatch, equality, and compas-
sion. The next Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations,
and the Commandant of the Marine Corps are left with the more
difficult problem of determining how to resolve and correct the long-
term failure of leadership that characterized Tailhook '91.
We have every expectation that the Navy will address the causes
and conduct that combined to produce the disgrace of Tailhook '91 ,
and therefore, we offer no recommendations.
[96]
Appendices
Appendix A
Tailhook '91 Agenda
35th Annual
Tailhook Symposium
5, 6, 7 & 8 September 1991
Las Vegas Hilton
Las Vegas, Nevada
I 99]
Appendix A
The Tailhook Association
PRESIDENT
CAPT Frederic G. Ludwig, Jr. USN
VICE PRESIDENTS
•
Industrial Affairs
G. C. "Buddy" Gilman
Corporate Development
CDR Howard E. Ruggles, USN(Ret)
Reserve Affairs
LCDR William McKinnon, USNR
Marine Affairs
COL M. A. Rietsch, USMC
Educational Activity
LCDR David W. Cully, USN
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairman Emeritus
CAPTF. A. W. Franke, Jr.,
USN(Ret)
Chairman
CAPT W. D. "Bill" Knutson,
USN(Ret)
CAPT R. F. "Skip" Braden, USN
CAPT Michael J. McCabe, USN
CAPT "Cal" Swanson, USN(Ret)
CAPT Wynn F. Foster, USN(Ret)
CAPT Terry E. Magee, USN
LCOL C. L. "Chuck" Zangas,
USMC(Ret)
LCDR James P. Usbeck, USN
Advisor, Naval Aviation Matters
RADM James D. Ramage, USN(Ret)
Executive Director
Ron Thomas
General Counsel
J. Wesley Fry
Treasurer
CAPT "Cal" Swanson, USN(Ret)
EDITOR
CAPT Stephen T. Millikin, USN(Ret)
MANAGING EDITOR
Jan C. Jacobs
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
CAPT Wynn F. Foster, USN(Ret)
Barrett Tillman
CW04 Carl W. Snow, USN(Ret)
CARRIER EDITOR
Robert J. Cressman
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
RADM James D. Ramage, USN(Ret)
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
CDR Doug Siegfried, USN(Ret)
CDR Pete Clayton, USN
Hal Andrews
CONTRIBUTING
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Douglas D. Olson
Michael L. Grove
Bruce R. Trombecky
Keith Snyder
Information regarding Tailhook Symposiums is available from the Tailhook As-
sociation. Editorial matters only are handled at The Hook address.
Articles and news items are welcomed. Submit material for THE HOOK to:
Editorial Offices, The Hook.
[ TOO ]
Tailhook 91 Agenda
Thursday, 5 September 1991
0900 READY ROOM AND EXHIBITS
OPEN BARRON ROOM
ALL SYMPOSIUM PROGRAMS WILL BE HELD
IN PAVILLION AREA
1600-1630 TAILHOOK ASSOCIATION MEETING
1630-1700 AVIATION SAFETY RADM J. B. FINNEY
(COMNAVSAFECEN)
1700-1730 ADVANCE AIRCRAFT
TECHNOLOGIES MR. T. MORGENFELD
(LOCKHEAD NAFT TEST PILOT)
1800 EXHIBITS CLOSED
1900-2100 NO HOST COCKTAIL PARTY/EXHIBITS
OPEN BARRON ROOM
2100 REGISTRATION BOOTH CLOSED
Friday, 6 September 1991
0730 GOLF AND TENNIS TOURNAMENTS
0900 REGISTRATION AND EXHIBITS
OPEN BARRON ROOM
ALL SYMPOSIUM PROGRAMS WILL BE HELD
IN PAVILLION AREA
1030-1045 SYMPOSIUM INTRODUCTION VADM R. M.
DUNLEAVY (OP-05)
CAPT F. G. LUDWIG (TAILHOOK PRESIDENT)
1045-1245 DESERT STORM NAVAL OPERATIONS
-MASTER COORDINATED STRIKE
PLAN CAPT L. G. BIEN
-PERSIAN GULF . . . .CAPT J. BURIN (CVW-5)
-RED SEA .... CAPT W. J. FALLON (CVW-8)
-BAHRAIN/SAUDI
ARABIA COL D. BEAUFAIT (MAG-11)
1245-1300 HOOKER HOTDOGS
[ 101 ]
Appendix A
1300-1400 NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS DESERT STORM
MUNITIONS EFFECTIVENESS BRIEFINGS
-TOMAHAWK LCDR B. JOHANSON
(STRIKE U)
-AIR-GROUND
PROGRAMS . . CAPT B. RAMSAY (PMA-201)
-AIR-AIR PROGRAMS . . .CDR T. MCKENZIE
(OP-501)
1400-15 15 DESERT STORM RECONNAISSANCE/
SURVEILLANCE/INTELLIGENCE OVERVIEW
-INTEL/JOINT-
STARS CAPT. C. JOHNSON (SPEARS)
-TARPS LDCR D. PARSONS
(VF-32)/LT P. MONGER (VF-2)
-RPVs CAPT A. C. AUER (3rd RPV CO)
1515-1545 MIG KILLER DEBRIEF LT N. MONGELLO
(VFA-81)
1545-1630 PRISONER OF WAR
EXPERIENCES CAPT C. BERRYMAN
LT R. SLADE
LT R. WETZEL
1630-1700 DESERT STORM STRIKE RESCUE
OPERATIONS CDR M. MCCARTY (OP-503F)
MR. R. MASTRONARDI (SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT)
1700-1730 F-18 E/F CAPT C. STRIDLE (PFA-265)
1730-1800 AX: NAVAL STRIKE
FIGHTER RADM J. TAYLOR (OP-05)
1800-1830 RESERVE OFFICER
MEETING RADM R. K. CHAMBERS
(COMNAVAIRESFOR)
1800 EXHIBITS CLOSED
1900-2100 COCKTAIL PARTY AND BUFFET (NO HOST
AFTER 2000) BARRON ROOM
[ 102 ]
Tail hook 91 Agenda
Saturday, 7 September 1991
0700 5K FUN RUN
0900 EXHIBITS OPEN BARRON ROOM
0900-0930 AVIATION PERSONNEL
ISSUES RADM J. L. JOHNSON (BUPERS)
0930-1000 CARRIER PLANS/NAVAL AIR STATION
PLANS RADM R. P. HICKEY (OP-05)
1000-1030 CARRIER AIR WING
PLANS RADM R. D. MIXSON (OP-05B)
1030-1 100 NAVAL AVIATION BUDGET
OVERVIEW RADM J. TAYLOR (OP-50)
1 100-1200 STATE OF NAVAL AVIATION
ADDRESS VADM R. M. DUNLEAVY (OP-05)
1200-1400 AWARDS LUNCH -PAVILLION
1400-1405 FIGHTS ON, FIGHTS ON IV CUBIC CORP
1405-1420 ASSOCIATION OF NAVAL
AVIATION VADM W. R LAWRENCE
1420-1435 TAILHOOK ASSOCIATION BUILDING FUND
UPDATE CAPT W. KNUTSON
1435 FLAG PANEL . .VADM R. M. DUNLEAVY (OP-05)
VADM J. B. FETTERMAN, JR. (CNET)
VADM E. R. KOHN (CNAP)
VADM A. A. LESS (CNAL)
LGEN D. A. WILLS (HQMC)
VADM W. C. BOWES (CNASC)
RADM R. K. CHAMBERS (CNARF)
RADM W. R. MCGOWEN (CNATRA)
RADM J. L. JOHNSON (BUPERS)
CAPT F. G. LUDWIG (MODERATOR)
1500-1800 EXHIBITS CLOSED
1 800 NO HOST COCKTAIL PARTY/EXHIBITS
OPEN BARRON ROOM
1900 BANQUET-PAVILLION ....HONORABLE
H. LAWRENCE GARRETT, III,
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Sunday, 8 September 1991
AM BUFFET BRUNCH - PAVILLION
1200 CHECKOUT
[ 103 ]
Appendix B
Tailhook Association
Submittal
Received from Tailhook
Association
(November 30, 1992)
TAILHOOK 1991 SYMPOSIUM
The 35th annual Naval Aviation Symposium, held at the Las Vegas
Hilton 5-9 September 1991, was more than the latest 'Tailhook
convention." It was the largest, most dynamic meeting of its type,
drawing 2,100 active, reserve, and retired aviators who registered
either in advance or at the convention itself for a three-day evaluation
of Navy and Marine Corps aviation in Operation Desert Shield/De-
sert Storm. An estimated 2,500 additional active or retired aviators
and civilians attended the symposium, but were not registered.
Symposium Origins
The fleet aviators, naval and government leaders, and aerospace in-
dustry representatives who gathered at 'Tailhook '91" represented
a purpose and a professionalism entirely beyond the Tailhook Asso-
ciation's early meetings. Founded in 1956, the Association grew
from a socially oriented group to a California-chartered nonprofit
organization in 1968. After early meetings in Rosarito Beach, Mex-
ico and San Diego, annual symposiums have been held in Las Vegas
continuously since 1963.
The symposium aspect of Tailhook gatherings began in the late-
1960s with a series of briefings by naval aviation units and contrac-
tors concerning developments in the war in Vietnam and weapon
[ 105 1
Appendix B
systems developments. Briefings at that time were relatively short
and not central to Tailhook gatherings.
However, during the Vietnam War aviators attending the conven-
tion capitalized upon the opportunity to exchange information on
tactical trends and developments— a rare opportunity not otherwise
available to aircrews from both Pacific and Atlantic Fleets. Upon
recognizing the value of professional "cross-talk" among naval avi-
ators that led to more effective performance in the cockpit, the struc-
ture of the symposium changed. Participation by the Deputy Chief
of Naval Operations for Air Warfare (OP-05) increased steadily to
the point where, in recent years, symposium events have been di-
rectly planned by the Navy in conjunction with Association planners.
Tailhook '91
Tailhook '91 was typical of many symposiums held in recent years.
Months before the event, an organizational committee consisting of
approximately 25 male and female naval aviators began preparations
for the event. Many on the committee had served for as many as
eight years previously and were highly valued for their skills and
"corporate knowledge" in staging this complex event.
Therefore, when Tailhood '91 convened in Las Vegas, the stage
was set not only for the largest meeting in the group's history, but a
highly professional debrief and victory celebration following the war
with Iraq. Additionally, the exhibit hall housing defense contractor
exhibits and Navy informational booths (provided at no cost to the
Navy) numbered a record 172 booths in what has become one of the
largest aerospace industry trade shows in the nation. The exhibitors'
displays were open virtually from the opening of the symposium to
well into the evening hours. Symposium visitors typically spent
hours viewing the displays and exchanging informaiton with contrac-
tor representatives.
Thursday, 5 September
Attendance at Tailhook '91 symposium events averaged almost 1,100
personnel. The formal symposium program began in the late after-
noon of Thursday, 5 September, with the Association's annual busi-
ness meeting, followed by an aviation safety discussion and a
[ io6]
Tail hook Association Submittal
contractor's presentation on advanced aircraft technologies. Both
events had an audience of 300 or more.
Friday, 6 September
Friday's events were keynoted by VADM Richard M. Dunleavy, As-
sistant Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare (Op-05). VADM
Dunleavy was aided by CAPT Frederick G. Ludwig, Tailhook As-
sociation president, who in turn introduced the first of the program
panelists.
By the time the Operation Desert Storm naval operations sympo-
sium began at 10:45 AM, attendance in the Hilton ballroom had
grown to more than 1,400 with standing room only. CAPT Lyle G.
Bien, an air wing commander during the Desert Storm operation,
described the master coordinated strike plan for the air war against
Iraq, and noted that * 4 Saddam won the toss— and elected to re-
ceive." Navy and Marine Corps roles in the air plan were described
in detail, with emphasis as how carrier- and land-based units fit into
the overall picture.
Tactical operations were next described by air wing commanders
CAPT Jim Burin, and CAPT W. J. Fallon together with COL Don
Beaufait of Marine Air Group Eleven who addressed the successes
and problems with carrier operations conducted from the Persian
Gulf, Red Sea, and Bahrain/Saudi Arabian areas. The series of brief-
ings was one of the more popular of the symposium.
Other topics discussed that day included munitions effectiveness
in Operation Desert Storm, the use of Tomahawk Land- Attack Mis-
siles in the conflict as well as problems and successes in ordnance
logistics.
Missile effectiveness in air-to-air combat next drew the attention
of attendees. The success ratios of AIM-7 Sparrow, and AIM-9
Sidewinder air-to-air missiles were examined, though carrier avia-
tors logged only three of the 45 aerial victories credited to Coalition
pilots during the war.
Later in the series of briefings, attendees were told of recent
trends in tactical and joint-service information gathering. Discus-
sions of the F-14 reconnaissance program and the use of Israeli-built
drones followed.
Two of the most heavily attended, most enthusiastically received
briefings that afternoon involved LT Nick Mongello of VFA-8 1 and
[ 107 ]
Appendix B
Marine CAPT Chuck McGill, who described their MiG shootdowns
during Desert Storm. At one point, McGill, serving at the time as an
exchange pilot with the Air Force, commented on the aerodynamic
beauty of the MiG-29 he had downed. During the question period
that followed, a listener arose in the audience to express similar sen-
timents and to state that he was formerly a Soviet Air Force captain
who had in 1989 defected from the USSR to Turkey in a MiG-29
Fulcrum. Alexander Zuyev was known to many attendees for his
invaluable briefings at Navy and Marine Corps tactical units over the
previous year. Many pilots in the audience quickly took full advan-
tage of an unexpected and unique opportunity to talk face to face
with a former adversary.
The standing-room-only crowd remained and was riveted in place
for the POW debrief that followed. Three of the eight Navy or Ma-
rine fliers captured by Iraq and imprisoned from January until March
reported that their knowledge of how other Tailhookers had endured
captivity during the Vietnam War helped to sustain them. The group
received a thunderous ovation from 1,300 of their comrades in the
audience who recognized that any one of the veterans of Desert
Storm present could have themselves been captives.
Following the prisoner of war briefing, between 600 and 700 sym-
posium attendees heard plans for future naval aircraft and Navy plans
for a carrier-based attack aircraft projected to follow in the wake of
the failed A- 12 program.
Friday's program was a long one, lasting from 9:00 a.m. to well
after 6:30 p.m. The annual president's dinner was held later that
evening with some 250 industry and military dignitaries in atten-
dance. The featured speaker was ADM Frank Kelso, Chief of Naval
Operations.
Saturday, 7 September
Saturday's program began at 9:00 a.m. with discussion of aviation
personnel issues in which listeners were told that the Navy could
expect a 14 percent reduction in manpower by 1996. Plans for the
retirement of several current aircraft carriers and the closure of vari-
ous naval air stations also was addressed in later briefings.
About 600 individuals who attended listened next to a discussion
of plans for future carrier air wings. The optimum mix of attack,
fighter, anti-submarine, and supporting aircraft on carrier decks over
[ 108]
Tailhook Association Submittal
the next decade or more was evaluated in light of current and possi-
ble acquisitions plans. An overview of naval aviation's likely budget
situation followed in which listeners were told that the Navy is able
to purchase only about three-quarters of the aircraft needed. The
briefer urged the fleet, including active naval aviators present at the
briefing, to make suggestions to planners in Washington.
An annual awards luncheon featured VADM Dunleavy's "state of
naval aviation" address. Numerous honors were presented at the
luncheon, including industry-sponsored awards by numerous indus-
try contractors. Most of these trophies are awarded annually to lead-
ing squadrons in the various aviation communities, but individual
awards were bestowed as well upon outstanding pilots, naval flight
officers, landing signal officers, and Marines.
Finally, following a tradition established in 1986, three new fliers
chose to receive their Wings of Gold at the Tailhook symposium.
Senior Navy officers and family members joined the over 1 ,000 in
the audience in looking on during the ceremony.
Flag Pan e l
The major event of the Tailhook '91 symposium convened following
the luncheon. The Flag Panel is one of the truly unique aspects of
Tailhook and the armed services. In this forum, Navy and Marine
flag and general officers assemble as a panel to respond to tough
questions posed by the audience. Leaders in virtually every aspect
of the naval service are represented and each receives his share of
questions.
The Flag Panel is a forum that is open and free of often stifling
aspects of military protocol. As the questioner is in civilian clothes,
his or her identity or rank is unknown to the flag officer. It is impos-
sible for the officer questioned to duck or evade in the answer. The
candor and sophistication of questions and answers is to be found in
no other place in naval aviation, if not the military. It is here that
flag and general officers learn of decisions or policies that sound
good in Washington but have unexpected or adverse impact upon
those in the fleet. Here new ideas emerge from junior officers, many
of which represent a fresh perspective. Ideas are discussed and, in
several noteworthy cases, implemented. In all discussions, the ex-
change of views is accompanied with a directness but mutual respect
that otherwise is impossible.
[ 109 ]
Appendix B
This type of senior-officer "reality check" is invaluable to those
leaders who are genuinely open-minded and receptive to the con-
cerns of their subordinates, and more than a few flag officers have
emphasized the value of this unique forum to the Navy. It is in the
Flag Panel discussions that Tailhook and naval aviation, over the
years, has become stronger and more progressive.
VADM Dunleavy presented the Tailhook '91 Flag Officer Panel to
an estimated 1 ,500 people jammed into the hall. Other panelists were
VADM J. H. Fetterman (Naval Education and Training), VADM
E. R. Kohn (Naval Air Forces, Pacific), VADM A. A. Less (Naval
Air Forces, Atlantic), VADM W. C. Bowes (Naval Air Systems
Command), LGEN D. A. Wills (Headquarters Marine Corps),
RADM R. K. Chambers (Naval Air Reserve), RADM W. R. Mc-
Gowen (Naval Air Training), and RADM J. L. Johnson (Naval Per-
sonnel).
One of the continuing questions posed to the flag panel over the
years has been the subject of women in combat aircraft. The matter
arose again in 1991, as reported on the CBS Evening News by Pen-
tagon correspondent David Martin. CBS had obtained a videotape of
the flag panel and showed VADM Dunleavy as a feminine voice
asked off-camera when women might receive combat assignments.
Dunleavy, already on record on the subject, first gave a "Hoo-boy"
reaction that was followed by faint laughter in the room. At that point
the CBS segment ended. However, five seconds later Dunleavy told
the audience, supporters and detractors of the position alike, "If
Congress directs SecNav to allow qualified women to fly combat
aircraft, we will comply." He repeated those words later in the sym-
posium, adding that female pilots already fly helicopters in the fleet
and are most likely to appear first in E-2s and S-3s aboard carriers.
It is important to note, however, that VADM Dunleavy 's complete
response was not reported in the press.
Additional subjects addressed at Flag Panel discussions included
adversary aircraft, class scheduling at the Naval Fighter Weapon
School, composition of S-3 squadrons, replacement airframes for
various types, budgetary and personnel matters. The symposium
briefings for Saturday, 7 September, concluded at 6:30 p.m.
Evening Banquet
The evening banquet began with presentation of the "Tailhooker of
the Year" award to CAPT Jay Campbell, honored for his leadership
[ no]
Tailhook Association Submittal
of Air Wing Two aboard USS Ranger during Operation Desert
Storm. For twenty years the accolade had been bestowed almost au-
tomatically upon senior admirals. But beginning in the 1980s, em-
phasis shifted to honoring air wing commanders and carrier captains
who demonstrated innovative methods or exceptional competence at
the operational level of naval aviation.
Highlight of the banquet was the presence of ADM Kelso and the
main address by Secretary of the Navy H. Lawrence Garrett III. It
marked the second symposium for each, recalling ADM Kelso's re-
marks that he wished the surface and submarine communities had a
professional forum comparable to that of Tailhook. Secretary Garrett
stated in his address that the Navy faced difficult times— especially
in the area of reduced budgets and force levels— but stressed that
naval aviation had survived such challenges before.
Summary
By the time the event ended with a farewell brunch on Sunday morn-
ing, the Tailhook Association knew to a certainty that the Naval Avi-
ation Symposium had realized its full potential. With a varied, objec-
tive assessment of the first victory in a full-scale war in half a
century, America's fleet aviators departed with enhanced pride in
their profession and in themselves.
At no time in the Association's 35-year history had there been a
better illustration of the unique triumvirate that is Tailhook: a sym-
biotic relationship among aviators, admirals, and industry, each giv-
ing and receiving information from the other.
For nowhere else is so objective and relaxed an atmosphere pos-
sible in a military context. A lieutenant (jg) can tell a vice admiral
what's wrong with a piece of equipment, and five minutes later that
admiral can ask an industry representative how to fix it. Conversely,
the admirals can explain policy directives or tactical changes to jun-
ior officers with a directness that otherwise probably would be
impossible. And simultaneously, an aircraft designer or ordnance
engineer can tell a Navy program manager what to expect from a
new procurement item without an onerous paperwork burden.
In summary, if the United States Navy did not already have access
to a Tailhook Association, there would be every good reason to cre-
ate one.
I / / / 1
Appendix C
Navy Submittal
Department of the Navy
Office of the Chief of Naval
Operations
Washington, D.C. 20350-2000
In Reply Refer To
15 Dec. 1992
Memorandum for The Inspector General,
Department of Defense
Subj: tailhook '91 professional events
1. Annual Tailhook Conventions have provided a unique profes-
sional exchange between Navy leadership, industry, and the largest
assembled group of rank and file Navy aviators. Over 3,000 active,
reserve, and retired aviators registered for the convention. An esti-
mated 2,000 additional persons attended the convention, but were
not registered. Tailhook success has always depended on the quality
of presentations and the rapport and mutual credibility between pre-
senters and audience. The Tailhook '91 program began on Thursday,
5 September '92, with a presentation by the Navy Safety Center on
current trends in aviation safety. The Lockheed Corporation fol-
lowed with a symposium on advanced aircraft technologies.
2. On Friday, the presentations had a strong emphasis on the lessons
learned during Desert Storm operations. The senior naval aviator on
the staff at Riyadh during Desert Storm described joint planning for
the air war and the effectiveness the allies had in dismembering the
Iraqi command and control system. The air wing commander on
USS MIDWAY briefed combat air operations from the Persian Gulf.
He covered the air threat encountered, strike profiles for the aircraft.
[ 113 1
Appendix C
intensity of operations, targets, and weapon loadouts and effective-
ness. The air wing commander on USS ROOSEVELT described na-
val air operations from mat vessel. He covered the difficulties of long
range strikes, including tanking, naval targets, use of electronic
counter-measures and weapons, weapons loadout, coordination with
the Air Force, and intelligence and reconnaissance support. The Ma-
rine air group commander described Marine Corps air operations
from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. He covered composition of the air
wing, tactics, integration with electronic warfare, and targets. The
Naval Air Systems Command gave an hour presentation on the effec-
tiveness of Tomahawk, air-to-ground ordnance, and air-to-air ord-
nance. Specific comments were made on improvements to each
system made as a result of combat performance. A presentation was
given on reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence support in
the war. The discussion covered the lessons learned in combat as to
the effectiveness of intelligence support, F-14 reconnaissance mis-
sions and information, and remotely piloted vehicles. The two most
popular presentations were given by aviators that had engaged Iraqi
aircraft and on the POW experiences of three aviators. Additional
presentations were given on strike rescue by the Chief of Naval
Operations (OPNAV) staff and representatives of the Sikorsky Cor-
poration, the development of the F A-18EF aircraft, and the devel-
opment of the AX aircraft.
3. On Saturday, the symposium began with a presentation by the
Bureau of Navy Personnel on personnel issues facing naval aviators,
including the expected 14 percent manpower reduction by 1996.
This was followed by a presentation by the OPNAV staff on the fu-
ture of naval air stations and future carrier air wing composition. The
optimum mix of attack, fighter, anti-submarine, and support aircraft
on carrier decks was evaluated in light of current and possible acqui-
atfon plans. An overview on naval aviation's likely budget con-
straints followed. The audience was told that the Navy is able to
purchase only about three-quarters of the aircraft needed. VADM
Drakavy , Assistant Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare . gave
the 4 4 state of naval aviation" at an awards luncheon. Awards were
given to leading squadrons as well as outstanding pilots, naval flight
officers, landing signal officers, and Marines. That afternoon, the
Flag Panel, composed of nine flag officers, answered questions from
the 2.000 plus aviators in attendance. This forum (a town hall meet-
ing) allows frank exchange of views between Navy leadership and
Navy Submittal
the audience of mostly junior officers that is not possible under nor-
mal military protocol. The audience raised questions specifically on
the design of the F/A-18E/F and AX, service life of the A-6 aircraft,
effectiveness of the 2W-8B aircraft, and weapons development— in-
cluding various air-to-ground and air-to-air needs, adversary aircraft,
class scheduling at Naval Fighter Weapons School, and composition
of S-3 aircraft squadrons. The status of women in combat was raised
by the audience and discussed by the panel. The conclusion of the
panel was that, if Congress directs the Secretary of the Navy to allow
women to fly combat aircraft, the Navy will comply. That evening,
the Secretary of the Navy spoke on the state and future of naval
aviation.
4. The frank exchange of ideas at Tailhook continued to assist Navy
leadership in planning for and resolving a variety of issues facing
Navy aviation. Immediate positive results of the professional ex-
change during the convention were realized in new studies on the
types of aircraft and training required for combat search and rescue.
In addition, as a result of the shortcomings identified during the sem-
inar on prisoners of war, Navy aviators flying over Southern Iraq in
Operation Southern Guard are now carrying the hand-held Global
Positioning System.
R. D. MIXON
Director, Air Warfare
[115]
Appendix D
Glossary of
Designators
Squadron
CAG
CNATRA
COMNAVAIRRESFOR
CVW
CVWR
HS
MAG
MAWTS
NFWS
NSWC
STRKFIGHTWINGPAC
TOP GUN
VA
VAQ
VAW
VF
VFA
Carrier Air Group (USN)
Chief of Naval Air Training (USN)
Commander, Naval Air Reserve Force
(USN)
Carrier Air Wing (USN)
Carrier Air Wing Reserve (USN)
Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron
(USN)
Marine Air Group (USMC)
Marine Aviation Weapons & Tactics
Squadron (USMC)
Naval Fighter Weapons School (USN)
Naval Strike Warfare Center (USN)
Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (USN)
Naval Fighter Weapons School (USN)
Attack Squadron (USN)
Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron
(USN)
Carrier Airborne Early Warning
Squadron (USN)
Fighter Squadron (USN)
Strike Fighter Squadron (USN)
[117]
Append
D
VMA
VMA(AW)
VMAQ
VMAT
VMAT(AW)
VMFA
VMFA(AW)
VMFAT
VMFP
VMFT
VR
VS
VT
vx
Attack Squadron (USMC)
All Weather Attack Squadron (USMC)
Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron
(USMC)
Attack Training Squadron (USMC)
All Weather Attack Training Squadron
(USMC)
Fighter Attack Squadron (USMC)
All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron
(USMC)
Fighter Attack Training Squadron
(USMC)
Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
(USMC)
Marine Fighter Training Squadron
(USMC)
Fleet Logistics Support Squadron
(USN)
Anti-Submarine Squadron (USN)
Training Squadron
Air Test and Evaluation Squadron
(USN)
[ 118]
Appendix E
Individual Squadron Suite
Summaries
Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 129 (VAQ-129)
Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island
Oak Harbor, WA
Hilton Suite Number:
Commanding Officer:
Executive Officer:
Contributing Squadrons:
302
CDR Richard H. Porritt, Jr.,
USN (attended Tailhook '91)
(did not attend Tailhook '91)
VAQ-129 and other VAQ
squadrons (EA6B) at NAS
Whidbey (12 squadrons)
Squadron Members Attending:
Suite Financing:
Unable to determine
Individual officer contributions
of $25 and excess funds from
the Prowler Ball, an annual
all- VAQ squadron event.
Hours of Operation: Thursday, 1 1:00 a.m. to
Friday, 2:00 a.m.; Friday,
11:00 a.m. to Saturday, 2:00
a.m.; Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to
Sunday, 2:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served: Beer and vodka/lemonade
punch
[ ii9\
Appendix E
Total Cost of Alcohol: $1 ,325.02
Total Cost of Suite Damage: SI 24 maid service, cleaning.
and damages
The VAQ-129 was the host squadron at Tailhook '91 for all the Tac-
tical Electronic Warfare squadrons. The suite was the first suite on
the right side of the hallway that people would come to as they exited
the main bank of elevators and turned right into the main pan of the
third-floor hallway. The VAQ-129 suite was located in the area where
the gauntlet and most crowded portion of the hallway started.
Prior to Tailhook '91, the VAQ-129 CO did not provide formal
instructions or guidance to the squadron members other than posting
two letters, both dated August 15. 1991. from CAPT Ludwig. the
Tailhook Association President, on the "all officers read board."
According to the squadron CO the duty officers were instructed to
check identification of anyone they thought might be under the legal
drinking age. They were also instructed to confront and. if needed,
escort anyone intoxicated or unruly from the suite.
The suite coordinators and duty officers reported their duties con-
sisted mostly of making certain there was an adequate supply of ice.
food, and beverages on hand at all times. The primary suite coordi-
nator said he hired two waitresses from a Las Vegas restaurant to
serve drinks on Friday and Saturday nights. He paid each woman
$100 per night. One Navy commander described the waitresses he
saw in the suite as being scantily dressed.
The primary suite coordinator estimated the VAQ-129 purchased
and served between 16 and 20 kegs of beer and at least 4 cases of
vodka. By most accounts, the suite was quiet on Thursday and Friday
nights. However, the party atmosphere increased on Saturday night.
Nineteen Navy and Marine Corps officers reported there was a
strip show in the VAQ-129 suite. The majority of their accounts were
consistent in detail. The witnesses stated there were two strippers
who performed on Saturday night at approximately 1 1:00 p.m. Most
of the officers said the strippers solicited tips, which the men placed
in the strippers' G-strings. By most accounts, the doors were closed
and window shades were drawn during the stoppers' performance.
One of the suite coordinators recalled that one stripper wore a
G-string and the other was eventually completely naked. Another
suite coordinator said he paid the strippers approximately $100 each
for their performance. One officer recalled that some male officers
[ /20]
Squadron Suite Summaries
danced with the strippers while another officer said one stripper ac-
cepted a tip by lifting her breast and allowing an officer to place his
money there. Yet another officer recalled seeing males tipping the
strippers and giving them "hugs."
Eight naval officers and one Hilton Hotel security officer stated
there were streakers in the VAQ-129 suite. Although the witnesses'
specific recollections were not entirely consistent, the general ver-
sion was that on Saturday night four or five naked males ran across
the pool patio area and into the suite. The men were being chased by
Hilton Hotel security officers and Tailhook Association officials.
People on the pool patio and in the suite intentionally hindered the
security officers by bumping into them, blocking their path, and
closing and locking the suite patio doors after the streakers entered
the suite. As described elsewhere in this report, CAPT Ludwig re-
ported that he found the streakers hiding together in the bathroom of
the VAQ-129 suite and he verbally reprimanded them but did not
seek to identify the officers by name or specific squadron. Two other
officers recalled they witnessed CAPT Ludwig also reprimanding the
suite duty officers who were present at the time. Although few wit-
nesses could or would identify any of the streakers, they were ulti-
mately identified during the course of our investigation.
There were two reports that women were grabbed or pinched by
males who were standing in the doorways of the suite. One person
said that it occurred in the doorway leading to the third-floor hallway
while another person described it as taking place in the door leading
to the pool patio. A Navy lieutenant admitted that he and three or
four other males pinched women who were entering the VAQ-129
suite from the hallway. The lieutenant said that if a woman voiced
objections he would stop. He also told us he could not recall the faces
or names of the other men who were taking part in that activity.
Another naval officer said at one point he saw some girls in the VAQ-
129 suite who appeared to him to be minors. With regard to consensual
activity, one officer stated he witnessed a woman in the suite who asked
a male to "zap" her. The male then "zapped" the woman on the
buttocks. There was also one officer who said he witnessed an incident
in the VAQ-129 suite in which a woman came up to a group of men who
were standing around talking and reportedly pulled down the pants of at
least one of the men and bit him/them on the buttocks. The witness said
the men laughed about the incident.
[ 121 ]
Appendix E
Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One Hundred
Ten (VAW-110)
Naval Air Station, Miramar, San Diego, CA
Hilton Suite Number:
Commanding Offieer:
Executive Officer:
Contributing Squadrons:
Squadron Members Attending:
Suite Financing:
Hours of Operation:
Type of Alcohol Served:
Total Cost of Alcohol:
303
CDR Christopher John
Remshak, USN (attended
Tailhook '91)
(did not attend Tailhook '91)
VAW-120, VAW-114, VRC-30,
CAEWWS
Approximately 50 from VAW-
110 and an undetermined
number from the contributing
squadrons
Contributions from squadron
wardroom funds totaling
approximately $3,200
Thursday, 3:00 p.m. to Friday,
2:00 a.m.; Friday, 3:00 p.m.
to Saturday, 2:00 a.m.;
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to
Sunday, 2:00 a.m.
Beer and mixed drinks
$900
Total Cost of Suite Damage: $1,316
The VAW-110 suite had pictures of naval aircraft hanging on the
walls of the suite; however, its featured attraction was the "leg-shav-
ing booth." The suite was arranged and organized for two purposes:
as a place to socialize with other squadron members and also to
entertain guests with the "leg-shaving booth." According to one of
[ 122 ]
Squadron Suite Summaries
the officers in charge of leg shaving, the booth was initiated at the
1990 symposium as a "scam" to attract guests to the suite. In con-
junction with the 1991 leg-shaving booth, there were reports of
"belly shots" and displays of nudity in the suite.*
The CO told us that prior to the symposium, in more than one all-
officers meeting, he discussed CAPT Ludwig's August 15, 1991,
letter with the suite coordinators and other squadron members. The
CO felt all the officers knew his position; the suite was to be run in
a "respectable" manner and that he would not allow any disrespect-
ful actions or activities toward females. Only two squadron members
we interviewed, however, could recall attending any all-officers
meetings prior to the convention where expected conduct was dis-
cussed.
In two separate interviews, the CO stated that prior to the symposium
he was not aware that the suite would have a "leg-shaving booth" as
its entertainment. However, two squadron members provided informa-
tion that directly conflicted with the CO's statements. One member
recalled that before leaving for Tailhook '91 , the CO told his assembled
officers that since the unit had women in its command, the leg shaving
had to be kept aboveboard. The other member stated he believed the CO
was fully aware that leg shaving was planned.
According to the CO, the first time he became aware of the leg
shaving was when he arrived in the suite on Thursday afternoon as the
booth was being set up. The CO told us that after discovering what
the booth was for, he immediately told one of the officers in charge
of the booth that there would be no underage participants, leg shaving
would be done by consent only, and only legs would be shaved. The two
officers who administered the leg shaving told us that the CO never
provided them any such instructions. One of the suite coordinators also
told us he was not aware of the CO giving any instructions to the two
officers in charge of the booth. The primary officer in charge of the
booth recalled that when he and the CO were introduced to each other, f
the CO said, "... I've heard a lot about you. ' '
There were at least four instances of partial or complete nudity in
the suite, most of which were related to the leg shaving. Three in-
stances involved women exposing their breasts, while the fourth in-
*Details of leg-shaving activities and belly shots are provided in Section VIII
of this report.
tThe primary officer responsible for the leg-shaving booth was from VAW-120,
Norfolk Naval Air Station, and had not previously met the CO of VAW-1 10.
[ 123 1
Appendix E
stance involved a woman removing all her clothing and having her
pubic area shaved.
The CO and squadron attendees told us the suite was vandalized
on Thursday night and, as a result, the door to the hallway was
closed for the remainder of the symposium. The only access to the
suite was through the patio doors. Those squadron members who
saw the vandalism stated that it consisted of graffiti painted on the
walls, grenadine-stained carpet, and torn and scratched wallpaper.
There were words on the walls that appeared to be call signs and a
squadron slogan. At least four squadron members suspected the cul-
prits of the vandalism were members of the VFA-151 squadron at
Miramar Naval Air Station, as the call signs and slogan were asso-
ciated with that particular squadron.
Two civilian women told us that an older male, approximately 70
to 85 years of age, was in the suite giving away stickers in the shape
of Navy wings. The male told one of the women that if she wanted
Navy wings, he would put them over her navel. She told him to put
them near her shoulder instead. The second woman allowed the man
to place the wings on her navel, and then gave the man the kiss that
he requested in exchange for the wings.
Regarding the indecent assaults, one squadron member told us
that while he was in the suite, he heard yelling and screaming com-
ing from the hallway through the closed door. Another squadron
member recalled a woman coming into the suite and appearing to be
upset. The squadron member attempted to ask her what was wrong,
but she would not answer or speak with him.
Air Antisubmarine Squadron Forty-one (VS-41)
Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego, CA
Hilton Suite Number:
Commanding Officer:
Executive Officer:
Contributing Squadrons:
304
CDR Glenn A. Main, USN
(did not attend Tailhook '91)
CDR John William Winkler,
USN (attended Tailhook '91)
VS-21, 22, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30,
33, 35, 37, 38, 174, and 294;
VQ-5 and 6
[ 124 ]
Squadron Suite Summaries
Squadron Members Attending: Unable to determine
Suite Financing:
Squadron wardroom
contributions totaling $5,050
Hours of Operation:
Thursday, 3:00 p.m. to Friday,
1:00 a.m.; Friday, 10:00 a.m.
to Saturday, 2:00 a.m.;
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to
Sunday, 1:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:
Keg beer and cubi specials
Total Cost of Alcohol:
$2,208
Total Cost of Suite Damage: $257
The VS-41 suite was commonly referred to as the "Viking" suite or
the S-3 "Hummer Hole." By most accounts, it was organized and
administered as an entertainment-type suite. The suite served com-
plimentary beverages and food to its guests. The suite coordinator
and a Lockheed representative told us that Lockheed gave approxi-
mately 500 "Hook" T-shirts to squadron members or affiliates. The
suite coordinator told us 17 squadrons contributed money to the
funding of the suite. He collected $5,050, which was used to pay for
the cost of the suite rental ($800), two hostesses ($300), two stripper
performances ($550), suite damage ($257), and the balance ($3,143)
was for food, beer, rum, vodka, and sodas. According to the suite
coordinator, the east coast squadrons were responsible for providing
duty officer assignments and security of the suite.
The CO told us that prior to Tailhook '91 , he conducted a meeting
at which he addressed the conduct he expected from his officers
while at the convention. He read to the squadron members the Au-
gust 15, 1991 , letter issued by CAPT Ludwig and added his guidance
regarding underage drinking, rowdiness, excessive drinking, and ac-
countable conduct while in the suites.
The CO and XO told us the suite's traditional form of entertain-
ment at past Tailhook conventions had been strippers, and, in that
regard, they were aware there would be strippers performing in the
suite at the Tailhook '91 . The CO stated he informed one of the suite
[ 125 1
Appendix E
coordinators the show was to be professional and aboveboard with
the doors closed and the curtains drawn.
The suite coordinator told us he hired two strippers to perform on
Friday night. They performed for two shows: one 45-minute show from
9:15 to 10:00 p.m. and another 1-hour 15-minute show from 10:15 to
1 1 :30 p.m. One squadron member described the strippers as being very
attractive and very young, approximately 17 years of age or younger.
Three squadron members recalled they had to pay a $1 fee before they
could enter the suite and see the show; that upset one squadron member
because he had already contributed money for alcohol and would be
denied access to the drinks because of the stripper performance if he did
not pay the entrance fee. More than half the squadron members indicated
that the doors to the suite were locked during each performance; at least
10 Tailhook attendees, including the VS-41 XO, were unable to get into
the suite to see the show because the doors were locked. One squadron
member recalled all women present in the suite were requested to leave
prior to the strip show.
The XO told us in addition to the CO's rules regarding the stripper,
he also gave the suite coordinators two of his own rules: there would be
no touching of the stripper, and no one would be allowed in the suite
once the strip show had started. Information provided by eight squadron
members indicated that there was physical contact between the stripper
and the audience. One squadron member recalled there were two strip
acts, with an intermission where the strippers went into the suite bath-
room while the suite was cleared for the next group of people coming
in. During the first performance, a large group of aviators on the patio
and in the hallway were clamoring to get into the suite. The same
squadron member recalled that the strippers rubbed against the men in
the suite and sat in their laps in a provocative manner attempting to elicit
tips while the men touched the strippers' breasts, buttocks, and pubic
areas. The other seven witnesses who told us about the strippers recalled
a variety of activities engaged in by the strippers and the audience. One
witness said that if one of the officers tipped the stripper, she would
come over, sit on his lap, and rub her breasts in his face. Another witness
remembered seeing guys put rolled bills in their mouths, and the strip-
pers retrieved the bills by pressing them between their breasts or by
clenching them with their vagina. One witness identified a squadron
member who laid on the floor, at least once, if not twice, holding money
in his mouth and touching the stripper's buttocks and vaginal area as she
squatted over his face to retrieve the money with her vagina. When the
squadron member was questioned about his activity, he stated he had
[ 126}
Squadron Suite Summaries
done that sort of thing in the past and would probably do it again in the
future, but that he could not remember if he did it at Tailhook '91.
Another witness recalled that a lieutenant commander started dancing
with the stripper, hovering over her, touching and grabbing her hips.
The stripper appeared irritated with the officer. One of the junior officers
in the audience asked the lieutenant commander to get out of the way
because he was blocking the junior officer's view of the stripper. The
lieutenant commander "pulled rank" on the junior officer and nothing
else was said. Shortly thereafter, a "chem light" was broken, and the
chemical inside the stick was handed to the lieutenant commander, who
then rubbed the chemical on the stripper. At least four witnesses recalled
that the stripper appeared to have green glowing handprints all over her
body. When questioned about his behavior, the lieutenant commander
stated that he ' 'dressed down' ' the junior officer for confronting him. He
denied putting the chemical on the stripper's breasts, buttocks, or pubic
area and stated he put the chemical only on the stripper's shoulders and
back.
One of the hostesses told us that the VS-41 suite was one of the
most popular suites as it was known to "go through the most beer";
she opined that about 37 kegs of beer were consumed in the suite
during the 3 days of the convention. The other hostess stated she was
one of the poster girls for the squadron. She said a suite coordinator
had taken photographs of her next to squadron aircraft, and the pic-
tures were on display in the suite. She recalled that while serving
drinks, various aviators told her about the gauntlet that would take
place on Saturday evening. They described that the halls would be
lined with officers chanting and harassing women as they went down
the hallway. Most of the squadron members recalled that the two
bartenders were scantily clad in bikinis, lacy bras, or black bras
stuffed with dollar bills; however, no information was developed that
indicated either hostess was assaulted in the gauntlet.
There were several instances of nudity displayed in the VS-41 suite in
addition to the stripper performances. One witness recalled on Friday
evening he entered the suite and observed three males walking around
the room naked despite there being females present. Another witness
told us that late Saturday night, six to seven male streakers came out of
the VS-41 suite and ran through the patio. Preceding the streakers by a
few moments were five or six women who appeared to be carrying the
*"Chem light" is a term commonly used to refer to a stick-light device that can
be chemically activated to glow and thereby emit colored light.
[ 127]
Appendix E
streakers' clothing. Another display of nudity occurred when a woman
who was wearing no bra removed her shirt to replace it with a Tailhook
T-shirt. The XO told us he observed a female enter the suite restroom,
remove her blouse and bra, return to the suite area, display her breasts,
and then exit the suite.
Regarding the gauntlet, three squadron members recalled that on
Saturday evening while in the suite, they heard guys in the hallway
banging on the walls and shouting, "Foul deck" and "Clear deck."
Another squadron member recalled he heard a loud commotion out
in the hallway and, as he peered out the suite doorway to see what
was going on, he saw males running down the hallway ducking into
suites very quickly as if they were trying to clear the hall. He then
saw two security guards assisting a female who was disrobed from
her waist down. Yet another squadron member said he was with a
woman in the hallway when she was grabbed all over her body. He
attempted at the time to identify the individuals that grabbed her, but
the victim did not want him to get involved. The female refused to
be interviewed during our investigation.
Naval Strike Warfare Center (NSWC)
Naval Air Station, Fallon, NV
Hilton Suite Number: 305
Commanding Officer:
CAPT David V. Park, USN
(attended Tailhook '91)
Executive Officer:
(did not attend Tailhook '91)
Contributing Squadrons:
None
Center Members Attending:
29
Suite Financing:
Initial voluntary contribution
by attending center members
of $50 and an additional $20
after the convention
[ 128]
Squadron Suite Summaries
Hours of Operation:
Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to Friday,
3:00 a.m.; Friday, 9:00 a.m.
to Saturday, 3:00 a.m.;
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to
Sunday, 3:00 a.m.; alcohol
was served from 3:00 p.m. to
3:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:
Keg beer
Total Cost of Alcohol:
$1,160
Total Cost of Suite Damage: $ 1 38
The NSWC suite was referred to as the "Strike University" or
"Strike U" suite as the mission of the NSWC is to provide instruc-
tion and training on the planning and execution of naval air strikes.
The CO told us the purpose of the suite was to afford those NSWC
officers, civilian employees, and their guests with a place to meet
and relax while at Tailhook '91 . Although the suite did not offer any
organized entertainment, it did feature videos of various aircraft and
weapon systems.
Attending officers said that prior to Tailhook '91, they agreed, as
in previous years, to sponsor a hospitality suite at the convention. It
was further decided that duty officers would be present in the suite
while it was in operation to ensure "calm conditions" and to mini-
mize damage. Other officers explained that arrangements were also
made to hire two civilian women from Fallon, NV, and San Fran-
cisco, CA, to act as bartenders during the afternoon and evening
hours and to sell NSWC T-shirts at the bar as a means of raising
additional monies to support the suite. The NSWC attendees paid the
women's transportation and lodging expenses while they were in Las
Vegas in exchange for their bartending services. The CO told us that
he gave instructions to the suite coordinator that the duty officers
were not to allow any activity in the suite that would embarrass the
Navy, the NSWC, or the CO. The NSWC officers stated they had a
recollection of receiving instructions from the CO before departing
for Tailhook '91. The CO informed us that while at the convention
he frequented the suite to ensure the instructions were being fol-
lowed. The CO acknowledged that he received CAPT Ludwig's
letter of August 15, 1991, regarding various problems at previous
[129]
Appendix E
Tailhooks and told us he provided copies of the letter to the XO and
the suite coordinator.
The CO said that, after returning from the convention, he spoke
with the suite coordinator and duty officers and was assured that no
questionable conduct occurred in the suite at Tailhook '91. The CO
did tell us that during the course of the weekend several intoxicated
aviators were asked* to leave the suite.
Regarding the assaults that occurred at Tailhook '91, both bar-
tenders explained that while in the suite they did not observe any
improper conduct, but one stated that during Saturday evening a
number of women entered the suite from the third-floor hallway and
complained about being grabbed by the aviators out in the hall. She
described the women as being irritated and angry at what had hap-
pened to them. We were told by NSWC officers that at some point
on Saturday evening the entrance door to the hallway was closed and
locked. Women entering the suite by way of the patio were warned
not to enter the hallway. According to one of those NSWC officers,
that was done so the women would not be subjected to the gauntlet.
Several Tailhook attendees told us that on Saturday evening there
was one incident of sexual harassment in the suite. The incident in-
volved verbal abuse in the form of sexual innuendos directed toward
two female civilian guests.*
Fighter Squadron 126 (VF-126)
Naval Air Station, Miramar, CA
Hilton Suite Number: 306
Commander: CDR Peter C. Chisholm, USN
(attended Tailhook '91)
Executive Officer:
(attended Tailhook '91)
Contributing Squadrons:
None
Squadron Members Attending: 20
*This incident is detailed in Section X.
[ 1 3° 1
Squadron Suite Summaries
Suite Financing:
Voluntary payment of
approximately $70 per
attendee
Hours of Operation:
Thursday, 12:00 noon to
Friday, 4:00 a.m.; Friday,
12:00 noon to Saturday, 4:00
a.m.; Saturday, 12:00 noon to
Sunday, 4:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:
Keg beer
Total Cost of Alcohol:
$411
Total Cost of Suite Damage: $131 for carpet and sofa
cleaning
The VF-126 suite, according to the CO, was booked to have a central
and convenient meeting place available at the convention for the attend-
ing squadron members. The suite served as a "locator" so that other
aviators at Tailhook '91 could locate the VF-126 squadron members in
attendance. The suite also afforded the squadron attendees a place to
store their luggage, change, and shower while at the convention. The
CO further said that the suite did not offer any form of entertainment
and only keg beer was available for consumption. No information to the
contrary was developed during the investigation.
The CO told us that prior to Tailhook '91 , he discussed hosting a
hospitality suite at a squadron officers' meeting. He also discussed
the ground rules regarding the operation and use of the suite, as well
as officer conduct in general. The CO acknowledged receiving
CAPT Ludwig's letter of August 15, 1991, regarding various prob-
lems at previous Tailhook conventions and had each officer attending
the convention read the letter. The XO confirmed that such issues
were discussed at the all-officers meeting.
One squadron member in attendance, a female naval officer, was
the victim of an assault on Saturday evening, September 7, 1992, in
the gauntlet. The assault occurred as the officer approached the VP-
126 hospitality suite from the third-floor hallway. The incident was
reported to the XO who subsequently contacted a Hilton Hotel se-
curity officer and asked if additional security officers could be sta-
tioned on the third floor. After the convention, the XO personally
[ 1 3 1 1
Appendix E
contacted CAPT Ludwig and notified him of the assault. He further
suggested to the victim that she file a formal complaint with the
Tailhook Association.
No derogatory information was developed regarding specific ac-
tivities within the suite.
Attack Squadron 128 (VA-128)
Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island
Oak Harbor, WA
Hilton Suite Number:
Commanding Officer:
Executive Officer:
Contributing Squadrons:
307
CAPT Bernis H. Bailey, USN
(attended Tailhook '91)
(did not attend Tailhook '91)
VA-128, VA-155, VA-165,
VA-52, VA-145, and VA-196
Squadron Members Attending: Approximately 50 from VA-
128
Suite Financing:
Hours of Operation:
Type of Alcohol Served:
Total Cost of Alcohol:
Total Cost of Suite Damage:
Individual assessments of $40
from 135 participating
squadron members
Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to
Friday, 2:00 a.m.; Friday,
11:00 a.m. to Saturday, 2:00
a.m.
Frozen margaritas and draft
beer
$895.13 for beer; $1,685.25
for margarita machine rental,
mix, and tequila; $2,580.38
total
$124.55 for cleaning charges;
$500 for carpet replacement
[ 132 ]
Squadron Suite Summaries
In sponsoring the administrative suite, the VA-128 squadron served
as the Tailhook '91 host for all the Navy A-6 Intruder attack squad-
rons. The two suite coordinators and eight suite duty officers re-
ported that the conduct in the VA-128 suite was professional and the
decorum in accordance with strict instructions of the squadron CO.
Investigation disclosed that when CAPT Bailey took command of
the VA-128 in August 1991, a decision had already been made that
the squadron would host an administrative suite at Tailhook '91 . The
primary suite coordinator said the new CO was not in favor of host-
ing the suite but went along since the decision had already been made
to do so. The other suite coordinator recalled that the CO said the
VA-128 would not hire any women to serve drinks in the suite.
The VA-128 CO held an all-officers meeting on Monday, Septem-
ber 2, 1991, in which he addressed appropriate behavior and the
general decorum in the suite. One Marine Corps captain, who served
as a duty officer, recalled that the CO told the squadron members to
cancel any strip shows or similar entertainment they may have
planned for the suite. The Marine captain also recalled that was not
well received by some of the men in the squadron.
The CO was very specific and strict in his rules and conditions for
the operation of the suite. He directed that the guidelines be written
and posted in the squadron ready room prior to Tailhook '91. The
written guidelines were also posted in the suite during Tailhook '91.
The written guidelines covered the responsibilities of the duty offi-
cers, including security and safety in the suite, and specifically stated
there would be 4 'no lewd or lascivious acts."
The suite was funded by collecting $40 from each of the VA-128
and other A-6 squadron members who indicated they were planning
to attend. There were a total of 135 persons from mostly west coast
A-6 squadrons who were on record as contributors. That included 47
VA-128 squadron members. According to CAPT Bailey, there were
54 VA-128 squadron members listed on the manifest for a C-9 flight
from Whidbey Island to Las Vegas for Tailhook '91. An invitation
was extended to the east coast A-6 squadrons as well.
The suite served beer, frozen margaritas, and on Friday evening
served a 6-foot hoagie sandwich. There was no entertainment pro-
vided in the suite. Much of the furniture was removed from the suite
and there were posters of A-6 aircraft on the walls. Some officers
said they used the suite as a safe place to temporarily stow their
belongings. One duty officer commented that most people came into
the suite to get a drink and then would quickly leave because there
[ 133 ]
Appendix E
was no place to sit down. Two of the duty officers described the
atmosphere inside the suite as "boring." Of the many other persons
who said they visited the VA-128 suite, there were no particularly
remarkable or noteworthy comments about the activity in the suite.
One Navy lieutenant recalled that he saw a female bartender in the
VA-128 suite who wore a vest with no shirt underneath. That account
was uncorroborated.
Some of the VA-128 squadron members wore caps with a replica
of an A-6 Intruder in-flight refueling probe in front. The caps were
also reportedly sold in the suite. One civilian described the refueling
probe replica as being black with a grey tip, and about 6 to 8 inches
long.
One VA-128 squadron member said that at about 10:00 p.m. on
Friday he witnessed a woman walk into the suite, lift her shirt, and
invite men to place zappers (squadron stickers) on her bare breasts.
If the men had no zappers, she invited them to rearrange the zappers
already placed on her breasts. The officer recalled that five or six
men accepted the woman's invitation. The suite coordinator stated
that as soon as he became aware of that activity, he asked the woman
to leave.
Investigation disclosed that the VA-128 suite was located in the
area of the hallway where the gauntlet activity ended. Ten naval of-
ficers and one Hilton Hotel security officer gave descriptions of be-
ing in the hallway in the vicinity of the VA-128 suite when they
witnessed women exiting the gauntlet. Two other naval officers said
that while they were in the suite they heard chanting and pounding
on the walls coming from the hallway. One of the suite coordinators
said that he occasionally closed the suite/hallway door to cut down
on the noise when it became too loud.
Three gauntlet victims, two civilians and LT Paula Coughlin,
stated they went into the VA-128 suite immediately after they were
assaulted in the gauntlet. In each case, there were male naval officers
who confirmed the victims came into the suite on Saturday night and
that they saw or spoke with the women, who appeared to be upset or
stated they had been assaulted in the gauntlet.
One female naval officer, who was not herself assaulted in the
gauntlet, reported she was in the A-6 suite when a senior officer,
whom she could not further identify, suggested that she join the ac-
tivities in the hallway. She said that the comment infuriated her be-
cause the officer was condoning what was going on in the hallway.
The primary suite coordinator said he was absolutely certain that
[ 134]
Squadron Suite Summaries
none of the CO's directions or orders were violated during Tailhook
'91. The results of our investigation were consistent with that state-
ment insofar as the activities in the suite. However, investigation
disclosed that individual VA-128 squadron members engaged in im-
proper conduct elsewhere in the Hilton Hotel.
Three individuals reported that VA-128 squadron members rented
a suite or suites in the Hilton Hotel, described variously as being on
the sixth, seventh, and/or eighth floors. The room(s) were used by
squadron members for lodging and, by one account, as a hospitality
suite. One naval officer said he attended a private bachelor's party
for a VA-128 squadron member in one of those rooms on Friday
night. He estimated there were about 20 to 30 VA-128 squadron
members in attendance at the bachelor party and there were 2 female
strippers performing. He recalled there were some verbal altercations
between the strippers and the squadron members because the women
wanted better tips and the crowd did not want to pay them more
money.
Another Marine officer, a VA-128 squadron member, said he at-
tended a bachelor party for another squadron member on Saturday
night. He said the party was held in a private room on the seventh
floor and that a stripper performed. He said when the stripper arrived
at about 9:30 p.m. or 10:00 p.m., he made arrangements with the
stripper to perform oral sex on the bachelor for whom the party was
being held after the strip show ended. The Marine officer said he
collected about $25 from each attendee and gave the stripper about
$150 to perform fellatio. After the strip show ended, everyone left
except for the stripper and the guest of honor. The Marine officer
left the bachelor party and went to the VA-128 suite in room 307.
After about 30 minutes the stripper and the bachelor came into the
VA-128 suite also. The Marine said the bachelor told him the stripper
had performed fellatio on him.
Marine Corps Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 3
(VMFP-3)
Deactivated 1990
Hilton Suite Number: 308
Commanding Officer: N/A
[ 135]
Appendix E
Executive Officer:
Suite Coordinator(s):
N/A
CAPT David Prudhomme.
USMC
Contributing Squadrons: None
Squadron Members Attending: Unable to determine
Suite Financing:
Hours of Operation:
Type of Alcohol Served:
Proceeds from the sale of the
squadron automobile
amounting to $3,000; proceeds
from the sale of squadron T-
shirts; and a $50 charge to all
former squadron members
attending Tailhook
Thursday, 11:00 p.m. to
Friday, 2:00 a.m.; Friday,
11:00 p.m. to Saturday, 2:00
a.m.; Saturday, 6:00 p.m. to
Sunday, 2:00 a.m.
Beer, "Rhino Spunk" (rum,
Kahlua, milk/cream, and ice),
and rum and Coke
Total Cost of Alcohol:
Total Cost of Suite Damage:
Unable to determine
$530, to include damage to
suite and carpet cleaning
The VMFP-3 suite was called the "Rhino" room or suite, as the
rhinoceros was the squadron mascot. In addition, we were told that
former squadron members in attendance at Tailhook '91 could be
identified as such as they wore headgear in the form of a rhinoceros
horn at various times throughout the weekend.
By most accounts, the suite was organized and administered as an
entertainment suite. Although the VMFP-3 squadron was deacti-
vated in 1990, former squadron members sponsored the suite at Tail-
hook '91. Since the squadron had been deactivated, no squadron
[ U6]
Squadron Suite Summaries
commander or XO was present at the convention. However, the for-
mer CO and XO (both active duty) did attend Tailhook '91. They
told us they participated in the planning of the hospitality suite and
visited the suite throughout the weekend of the convention. Suite
activities centered around a hand-painted mural of a rhinoceros (ap-
proximately 5' x 8') to which was affixed a dildo rigged by squad-
ron members for use as a drink-dispensing mechanism. The dildo
dispensed an alcoholic-based liquid referred to as "Rhino Spunk"
by attendees. A squadron member acted as bartender and operated
the dispensing machine. By way of background, witnesses told us
that the original "Rhino" mascot was made of papier mache and
was displayed by the squadron at the 1989 and 1990 Tailhook con-
ventions. The original "Rhino" also had a large phallus device from
which drinks were dispensed. Women received a drink by kissing the
papier mache "Rhino" on the lips.
As the original "Rhino" had been given to a bar in Pensacola,
FL, after the Tailhook '90 convention, a decision was made by a
number of former senior and junior officers to create a new mascot
(the mural) for Tailhook '91. During Tailhook '91, some women
would kiss, suck, or stroke the dildo to obtain a drink.
A number of aviators told us that while in the suite they observed
a "deep throat" contest during which women would simulate per-
forming oral sex on the dildo. The crowd would chant, "Beat the
line . . . beat the line." The chant referred to a line that was placed
on the dildo to indicate how much of the dildo the previous woman
was able to take into her mouth.
Former squadron members stated that women were not forced,
coerced, or intimidated in any way to drink from the dildo. However,
many witnesses informed us that women were certainly encouraged
to drink from the "Rhino" and various organized chants were used
to accomplish that, such as "Kiss the Rhino," "Do the Rhino," or
"Suck the Rhino." Women's names were also used in the chants. If
a woman drank from the "Rhino" or refused to drink, she would be
cheered or booed accordingly by the crowd. A number of women
told us they found the behavior to be unnerving. One Navy com-
mander stated he was concerned that women were being coerced by
former squadron members into drinking from the "Rhino." He ap-
proached one Marine who was attempting to get women to enter the
suite from the third-floor patio area of the Hilton. The commander
instructed him to be careful and not to force any women into the
1 137]
Appendix E
suite or to intimidate them into drinking from the dildo. The com-
mander further stated that the Marine just "blew him off."
During the course of our investigation, five women told us that on
entering the suite, they were physically restrained from leaving. Dur-
ing one of those incidents, a woman noticed that an unknown indi-
vidual was behind the mural. That individual removed the dildo and
replaced it with Jiis exposed penis. Another woman explained that
she was escorted through the suite to the mural and as the crowd
started to chant her name she was surrounded. An individual whom
she believed to be an aviator grabbed her arms. She perceived that
she would be prevented from leaving until she drank from the rhi-
noceros' penis. She was eventually escorted from the suite by a
friend and another aviator not associated with the suite. The third
woman, whose husband was an aviator, told us of being grabbed in
the hallway, dragged into the suite, and verbally harassed when she
refused to drink from the "Rhino." The fourth woman, a naval of-
ficer, described being shoved and pushed up to the mural whereupon
her head was forced toward the dildo.
The fifth woman, a student from UNLV, entered the suite in order
to get out of the hallway. Once inside the suite, she was grabbed and
pushed up to the mural by four aviators. She screamed and struggled
and was eventually escorted from the suite by her friends from whom
she had been separated upon first entering the suite.
Other activities reported to have taken place in the suite included
women exposing their breasts to obtain squadron T-shirts. Addi-
tional incidents that were detailed by witnesses included "moon-
ing," consensual sex, and one episode in which a former squadron
member had his pants pulled down by two women visitors to the
suite. Reportedly, men who were wearing "Rhino" horns and be-
lieved to be aviators were "butting" women with their horns in the
third-floor hallway on Saturday evening.
Commander Naval Air Reserve Force (comnavairresfor)
New Orleans, LA
Hilton Suite Number: 3 10
Commander: CAPT John P. Hazelrig, USN
(attended Tailhook '91)
[138]
Squadron Suite Summaries
Chief of Staff:
Contributing Squadrons:
(attended Tailhook '91)
Carrier Air Wing Reserve 30
(CVWR-30)
Squadron Members Attending: 6 CVWR staff officers and an
unknown number of squadron
officers
Voluntary payment of
approximately $10 per
CVWR-30 attendee
Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 12:00
midnight; Friday, 2:00 p.m. to
Saturday, 2:00 a.m.; Saturday,
2:00 p.m. to Sunday,
2:00 a.m.
Keg beer and mixed drinks
$750
Suite Financing:
Hours of Operation:
Type of Alcohol Served:
Total Cost of Alcohol:
Total Cost of Suite Damage: $81 .66 for carpet cleaning
The COMNAVAIRRESFOR was the host command for the suite. The
CVWR-30, located at NAS Miramar, CA, and its seven subordinate
squadrons were responsible for funding and administering the suite
at Tailhook '91. According to one suite coordinator, those responsi-
bilities alternated every other year between his wing, CVWR-30,
and the east coast Reserve wing, CVWR-20. The wing commander
told us the primary purpose of the suite was to afford all Reserve
officers attending Tailhook '91 with a place to meet and relax. In
addition, the suite served as an informal recruiting center for the
Navy Reserve program. The wing commander also told us the suite
was further used to "play up" the 75th anniversary of the Naval
Reserve. The wing commander stated that keg beer, mixed and soft
drinks were served in the suite. No "specialty" drinks were served
and no entertainment was sponsored in the suite. No information to
the contrary was developed during the investigation.
The wing commander told us that prior to Tailhook '91 , he had a
[ 139]
Appendix E
specific recollection of discussing suite administration and conduct
during at least three staff meetings. During our interviews of staff
officers and squadron members, a number of them confirmed receiv-
ing such instructions. Although the wing commander could not re-
call receiving CAPT Ludwig's letter regarding behavior at Tailhook
'91, at least one of the suite coordinators recalled seeing the letter.
He further noted that the contents of the letter were discussed with
the wing squadron commanders. The wing commander informed us
that he attended Tailhook '91 because his wing was hosting the hos-
pitality suite and one of the wing squadrons was receiving an award
at the convention.
No derogatory information was developed regarding specific ac-
tivities in the COM N AVA I R R ES FOR suite.
Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron One (HS-1)
Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, FL
Hilton Suite Number: 3 1 5
Commanding Officer: CAPT Christopher Warren
Cole, USN (attended Tailhook
'91)
Executive Officer:
(attended Tailhook '91)
Contributing Squadrons:
HS-2 through HS-1 2, HS-14,
15, 17, 75, & 85
Squadron Members Attending: Unable to determine
Suite Financing:
Contributions of $100 from
stateside squadrons;
contributions of $50 from
overseas squadrons
Hours of Operation:
Thursday, 12:00 noon to
Friday, 2:00 a.m.; Friday,
12:00 noon to Saturday, 2:00
a.m.; Saturday, 12:00 noon to
Sunday, 2:00 a.m.
[ 140 ]
Squadron Suite Summaries
Type of Alcohol Served: Beer and frozen margaritas
Total Cost of Alcohol: $500
Total Cost of Suite Damage: $470
The HS-1 suite functioned as a meeting place for the squadron mem-
bers to see old friends and promote the naval helicopter community.
Several squadron members told us that, traditionally, helicopter units
did not attend Tailhook conventions, and having a hospitality suite
was a means to get the helicopter community better integrated with
the rest of the naval aviation community. Squadron members told us
they felt it was important to portray a positive image and there were
no " gimmicks" or unusual forms of entertainment in the suite.
By several accounts, the HS-1 suite was described as a "safe ha-
ven" and appeared to some people to be the most calm of all the
suites. Several females had taken "refuge" in the suite to get out of
the third-floor hallway. Occasionally, people came into the suite to
get promotional cards or helicopter posters signed by the squadron
members.
The CO and another squadron member told us that on Friday and
Saturday afternoons, a group of 6 to 15 females in their 30s and 40s
performed an unsolicited aerobics routine similar to a Jane Fonda
workout. The group of women, who said they were from Arizona,
provided their own music and before they left they thanked everyone
for watching their routine. One squadron member recalled that over
the course of Saturday, the women wore "upgraded" outfits as they
continued to visit the suite. They started out wearing aerobics outfits,
later changed to jeans, and, in the evening, returned to the third floor
wearing dresses. During their later visits at 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.
on Sunday morning, the women* "package checked" some of the
men and put chemically lighted glow sticks down the men's shorts.
In spite of the aforementioned contention regarding the lack of
inappropriate activity in the suite, our investigation did disclose that
squadron members may have been involved in at least one major
assault. By the accounts of most squadron members, the "hooping
* Witnesses decribed a practice known as "package checking" whereby atten-
dees fondled the genitals of members of the opposite sex. Reports of that activ-
ity included witness accounts of a male and female who took turns fondling
each other's exposed genitals in front of a large number of suite attendees.
[ 141 }
Appendix E
[sic], hollering, and yelling" in the hallway could be easily heard
from within the suite. The door to the suite was eventually closed
because of the loud noise coming from the hallway. Most squadron
members were aware of the "gauntlet" activities in the hallway, and
several of the squadron members tried to help women by encourag-
ing them not to go down the hallway. However, during the course of
our investigation, information was developed that indicated a female
who was underage,* and was known to be underage by some of the
squadron members, spent some time in the suite dancing and con-
Versing with several squadron members. No one attempted to prevent
her from obtaining alcohol and she became severely intoxicated.
Squadron members told us that to avoid embarrassing the squadron
or placing responsibility for her intoxication on its members, the
woman was removed from the suite and placed against the hallway
wall opposite the suite by squadron members who were aware of the
existence of the gauntlet and the potential consequences of the
woman being placed in the hallway. One squadron member told us
that after he and others placed the woman in the hallway, they again
shut the door to the suite. The woman was assaulted in the gauntlet.
Other information and evidence developed through our investiga-
tion indicated that one of the squadron members videotaped other
members hanging a stolen VF-114 squadron flag on the wall of the
HS-1 suite and then "mooning" the camcorder.
Fighter Squadron 1 (VF-1)
Naval Air Station, Miramar, CA
Hilton Suite Number:
Commanding Officer:
Executive Officer:
Contributing Squadrons:
316
CDR Steven C. Gaylor, USN
(attended Tailhook '91)
(attended Tailhook '91)
None
Squadron Members Attending: 24
♦Persons under the age of 21 are classified as underage under Nevada State law;
thus, they are not legally able to purchase or be served alcohol in that state.
[ 142 ]
Squadron Suite Summaries
Suite Financing:
Voluntary payment of $70 per
attendee
Hours of Operation:
Thursday, 5:00 p.m. to 12:00
midnight; Friday, 5:00 p.m. to
12:00 midnight; Saturday, 5:00
p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:
Keg beer and limited mixed
drinks
Total Cost of Alcohol:
$88
Total Cost of Suite Damage: $70 for carpet cleaning
The VF-1 suite, by most accounts, was intended to afford squadron
attendees and their guests a central and convenient meeting location,
as well as a place to relax while at the convention. According to
squadron members, it was not an "entertainment "-type suite and
only limited quantities of alcohol and food were available for con-
sumption. No information to the contrary was developed during the
investigation.
The CO and XO told us the decision to host the suite as well as
the arrangements for operating the suite, duty officer assignments,
and general behavior requirements for those members participating
in Tailhook '91 were discussed at an officers meeting at the squadron
prior to the convention. That information was basically confirmed by
a number of officers during our interviews of squadron members at
the Naval Air Station, Miramar; however, not all the officers recalled
receiving such instructions relative to their conduct at the conven-
tion. The CO acknowledged receiving CAPT Ludwig's letter of
August 15, 1991, regarding various problems at previous Tailhook
conventions. The CO stated that he attended Tailhook '91 specifi-
cally to ensure there were no such problems associated with the op-
eration of the VF-1 suite.
With respect to the hours of operation of the suite on Saturday
evening, September 7, 1991, the CO noted that he "closed" the
suite at approximately 6:00 p.m. after finding the suite unattended
by the duty officer. This information was confirmed, in other inter-
views, although the time of closure as reflected in the interviews
ranged from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
[ 143 1
Appendix E
No derogatory information was developed regarding specific ac-
tivities within the suite. However, one photograph provided during
the investigation and believed to have been taken in the VF-1 suite
on Saturday evening depicts two males assisting two females in ex-
posing themselves. Specifically, one officer is shown pulling down a
woman's tube top blouse, thus exposing her bare breasts. The second
officer is shown lifting the other woman's dress, exposing her but-
tocks and bikini panties. All four people depicted in the photographs
are seen smiling while posing for the picture. The two males have
been identified as Navy officers, but were not members of the VF-1
squadron. When interviewed, the two officers told us that they did
not recall engaging in the activity shown in the photograph and at-
tributed their lack of recall to having been intoxicated.
Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 12
1 (VMFA[AW]-121)
Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, CA
Hilton Suite Number: 3 1 8
Commanding Officer:
LTC Stephen F. Mugg, USMC
(attended Tailhook '91)
Executive Officer:
(did not attend Tailhook '91)
Contributing Squadrons:
VMFA (AW)- 121 and VMFA
(AW)-314
Squadron Members Attending:
25
Suite Financing:
Money deposited in Officers'
Fund
Hours of Operation:
Friday, 12:00 noon to
Saturday, 4:00 a.m.; Saturday,
12:00 noon to Sunday,
3:00 a.m.
[ 144 1
Squadron Suite Summaries
Type of Alcohol Served: Bloody Marys in the a.m. ,
beer and margaritas in the
p.m.
Total Cost of Alcohol: Beer total $655; liquor and
food totals $782
Total Cost of Suite Damage: No damage; cleaning charge of
$76
The VMFA-121 suite, by most accounts, served as a central meeting
place for the squadron attendees. The only entertainment provided
in the suite were [sic] videos of the Gulf war with F-18 aircraft shoot-
ing rockets.
The CO stated that 6 weeks prior to the convention, he held an
all-officers meeting to "talk up" the convention and give instruc-
tions to the attendees regarding their conduct there. He circulated the
August 15, 1991, letter from CAPT Ludwig regarding the conven-
tion and reiterated to his squadron members that there would be "no
gauntlet and no stupid stuff. ' ' He instructed them to ensure that re-
freshments, condition of the suite, and squadron members' property
were appropriately maintained.
According to the CO, the mascot of VMFA( AW)- 121 is a green
knight. On Friday night, a 4-foot-high sheet metal statue of a green
knight was used to block open the door to the suite. On Saturday
night, to attract attention to the suite, the "green knight" was en-
dowed with a rubber dildo, which was then modified to dispense
margaritas. The CO told us that the dildo on the "green knight" was
not offensive nor harmful to anyone and, in fact, caused more people
to come through the suite. The CO told us that if the dildo had been
offensive to anyone, he would have told those individuals to leave
the suite rather than remove the dildo. The dildo was described by
most Tailhook attendees who saw the "green knight" as "no big
deal" and not offensive in nature.
The CO stated he would not let people put their mouths on the
dildo to receive drinks because that would have violated health reg-
ulations. However, military and civilian Tailhook attendees who
were interviewed, stated people did, in fact, put their mouths on the
dildo to receive drinks. One Marine attendee stated that people were
drinking directly from the dildo, while a Navy attendee said he
watched a woman massage the dildo to obtain a drink. Two civilian
[ 145 1
Appendix E
attendees witnessed people sucking on the dildo, some of whom
while down on their hands and knees. A Navy attendee noted that at
some point on Saturday night, the dildo was covered with a condom.
The CO and two former squadron members told us the concept of
the 4 'green knight" dildo originated with a former squadron mem-
ber's wife. In 1988 or 1989, while the former squadron member was
on a long-term cruise, his wife was presented with a dildo as a gag
gift during a squadron wives' club meeting. When the squadron
member returned from the cruise, his wife gave him the dildo and
he, in turn, gave it to the squadron so it could be placed on the
"green knight."
No one that we interviewed reported seeing any strippers in the
VMFA(AW)-121 suite. However, the NIS interviewed at least six
officers who reported that they personally observed or heard of strip-
per(s) in the suite. Four of those officers recalled that it was on Fri-
day night that they specifically saw the stripper(s).
Information provided by one officer indicated that one squadron
member was with a woman in the hallway when she was assaulted
in the gauntlet. While the woman was being grabbed, swatted on the
buttocks, and disrobed, the VMFA(AW)-121 squadron member was
encouraging her to continue on through the crowd. When the woman
got to the end of the gauntlet, she was dropped on the floor wearing
just her brassiere* and panties. The VMFA(AW)-121 squadron mem-
ber and others in the hallway "dashed" into the suites as security
guards came to the woman's rescue.
Fighter Squadron Fifty-one (VF-51)
Miramar Naval Air Station, San Diego, CA
Hilton Suite Number: 3 1 9
Commanding Officer: CDR Thomas George Sobieck,
USN (attended Tailhook '91)
Executive Officer: (attended Tailhook '91)
Contributing Squadrons: None
*The officer could not identify the victim by name nor was she further identified
during the course of the investigation.
1 146]
Squadron Suite Summaries
Squadron Members Attending:
25
Suite Financing:
Individual assessments of $25
and wardroom funds of $100
Hours of Operation:
Open to squadron personnel 24
hours, Thursday-Saturday
Type of Alcohol Served:
Beer, wine, and liquor
Total Cost of Alcohol:
$200
Total Cost of Suite Damage: None
Investigation disclosed that the VF-5 1 administrative suite served as
a central meeting place for squadron members. It was not an open-
door hospitality suite like many of the others. The suite was located
at the extreme far end of the third-floor hallway away from where
the majority of the gauntlet-related assaults occurred.
The only entertainment provided in the suite was a bachelor party
for one of the squadron members where two strippers performed on
Friday night. By most accounts, the party was a closed-door event
for only VF-51 members and friends of the bachelor. There were
approximately 30 people in attendance. One civilian Tailhook atten-
dee recalled trying to enter the suite but the door was locked; behind
the door was an unidentified male who was preventing the entry of
any uninvited guests.
The squadron member in charge of hiring the strippers said he
paid the strippers $150 to $200 for the performance. The strippers
wore G-strings and only removed their tops. One squadron member
told us the strippers removed the bachelor's clothing, to include his
underwear, which embarrassed the bachelor. Two other squadron
members recalled that the strippers attempted to remove the bache-
lor's underwear, but he resisted. Also, a former squadron member
told us that prior to the strippers' performance, as a joke, he paid
one of the strippers $20 to put VF-126 stickers on each breast so they
would be visible for all the VF-51 squadron members to see when
she removed her clothes.
By the accounts of all VF-51 members interviewed, there was no
touching of the stripper by anyone in the audience. However, infor-
mation to the contrary was provided by a witness not connected with
[ i47\
Appendix E
VF-51 . The witness was a naval officer and a friend of the bachelor.
The witness indicated that the bachelor laid [sic] on the floor with
dollar bills in his mouth and was stripped down to his underwear
while the women were dancing; the bachelor then placed money in-
side his underwear, and the women retrieved it. Other details pro-
vided by the witness indicated that the witness's recollection was
quite vivid. It should be noted that detailed information was not
provided by the VF-51 squadron members, and that the witness
providing the information was interviewed at a different location ap-
proximately two months after the squadron members were inter-
viewed.
Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 24
2 (VMFA[AW]-242)
Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, Santa Ana, CA
Hilton Suite Number:
320
Commander:
LTC Daniel Driscoll, USMC
(attended Tauhook 91)
Executive Officer:
(attended Tailhook '91)
Contributing Squadrons:
None
Squadron Members Attending:
17
Suite Financing:
$60 individual assessment
Hours of Operation:
Thursday, 3:00 p.m. to Friday,
1:00 a.m.; Friday, 3:00 p.m.
to Saturday, 1:00 a.m.;
Saturday, 3:00 p.m. to
Sunday, 1:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:
Draft beer
Total Cost of Alcohol:
Unable to determine
Total Cost of Suite Damage:
$69.50 for standard carpet/sofa
cleaning bill
[ 148}
Squadron Suite Summaries
The VMFA(AW)-242 hosted the hospitality suite as a place for the
squadron members, commonly called the 4 'Bats,' ' to meet and relax.
The only entertainment that the suite sponsored for the public were
videos of F-18 Hornet flights. On all three nights of the symposium,
there were "private" parties for squadron members during which
strippers performed.
The CO told us that prior to the symposium, he held two all-
officers meetings during which he briefed the squadron officers on
what he expected from them concerning their conduct and deport-
ment. He used the August 15, 1991, letter from CAPT Ludwig as a
guide to instruct the officers there would be no minors or intoxicated
officers allowed in the suite and offensive behavior or "gang men-
tality" would not be tolerated.
The CO stated he had numerous meetings with the XO concerning
the operation of the suite. The XO told us that he appointed duty
officers to keep order in the suite at all times. Through interviews of
several squadron members, we were able to determine that the re-
sponsibilities of the suite duty officers were to "police" the suite,
ensure there was no damage to the suite itself, and maintain general
order.
The CO and XO told us that prior to the symposium they granted
permission to the junior officers to host a bachelor party in the suite.
The bachelor party included the hiring of professional strippers. The
CO said that he saw nothing wrong with having a private party in the
suite as long as it did not include any "sex acts."
The suite coordinator told us that he was tasked by the XO with
providing the entertainment, including a stripper, for the bachelor
party. He located a stripper in an advertisement of erotic dance com-
panies. On Thursday night the stripper who was to perform at the
bachelor party gave a preview performance to several squadron
members in the suite. Some of the junior officers present for the
preview unsuccessfully attempted to procure oral sex for the XO.
Neither the stripper nor the XO complied. After the preview, the
stripper presented her ground rules on how the men in attendance at
the Friday night bachelor party should conduct themselves. Accord-
ing to the suite coordinator, the stripper said she would dance in her
panties; no one would be allowed to touch her breasts, groin area, or
buttocks; she was to be paid $150 for dancing; and she would leave
at any time she became uncomfortable. The suite coordinator asked
her to bring a second "dancer" with her on Friday night since there
[ 149 ]
Appendix E
would be two bachelors for which the party was being held. On
Friday night, two strippers performed.
According to those persons attending the Friday night perform-
ance, a crowd of between 40 and 70 people was present. By most
accounts, the doors were shut and the curtains were drawn. The
strippers began their performance at about 9:00 p.m., which lasted
approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. The two strippers performed by
completely undressing themselves, undressing the two bachelors
down to their shorts, rubbing their bodies against the bachelors, and
collecting tips from the onlookers. The bachelors laid [sic] down on
the floor between the strippers' legs and held dollar bills in their
mouths; the strippers picked up the bills with various parts of their
bodies. Money was collected from the crowd to purchase sex for the
bachelors; however, our investigation failed to substantiate any re-
lated sex acts.
For Saturday night, the suite coordinator arranged another stripper
performance by a different dancer than the prior two nights. One of
the squadron officers told us that to "liven up the party," he laid
[sic] down on the floor below the stripper and between her legs. He
and other squadron members placed bills on various locations of his
body to include between his teeth, in his mouth, in his nose, and in
his zipper/crotch area; the stripper picked them up with her buttocks,
crotch, and hands, just as the strippers had done on Friday night. In
addition to the "tips," the stripper was paid a $150 fee. We obtained
candid photographs of portions of the performance which include
pictures wherein the XO and other officers are shown having nonsex-
ual physical contact with the stripper.
Through interviews of persons who attended the Friday and Sat-
urday night performances, we obtained information that directly con-
flicted with the CO's testimony regarding the party. According to the
CO, his orders were that no one was allowed to attend the party who
was not a member of the squadron; however, we interviewed several
attendees of the parties who were neither former nor current squad-
ron members. Interviews of several squadron members confirmed
that the CO of the Marine Aircraft Group 1 1 was also present during
the stripper performances.
During the interview process, it became evident that the squadron
members were not being completely candid with investigators.
[ 150]
Squadron Suite Summaries
Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Five (VX-5)
Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, CA
Hilton Suite Number:
Commanding Officer:
Executive Officer:
Contributing Squadrons:
354
CAPT R. Kellet, USN (did not
attend Tailhook '91)
CAPT Garth A. Van Sickle,
USN (attended Tailhook '91)
NOTE: CAPT Kellet was the
CO of VX-5 at the time of
Tailhook '91. CAPT Van
Sickle took command of VX-5
in late September 1991,
several weeks after the
Tailhook '91 symposium.
(attended Tailhook '91)
VX-5
Squadron Members Attending: Approximately 30
Suite Financing:
Hours of Operation:
Type of Alcohol Served:
Total Cost of Alcohol:
Total Cost of Suite Damage:
Individual assessment of
wardroom funds.
Thursday, 2:00 p.m. to Friday,
2:00 a.m.; Friday, 10:00 p.m.
to Saturday, 2:00 a.m.;
Saturday, 10:00 p.m. to
Sunday, 2:00 a.m.; Sunday,
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Beer
$719
$63 cleaning charge
Investigation disclosed that the VX-5 administrative suite was, by all
accounts, managed professionally and operated with decorum. The
[ /5/ 1
Appendix E
suite served as a central meeting place for squadron members and
had a quiet, uncrowded atmosphere where people could talk and
relax. The VX-5 suite was on the far end of the third-floor hallway
from the other hospitality suites. The location is on the other side of
the elevators and at the extreme far end of the crowded portion of
the hallway away from where the gauntlet activity occurred.
The only alcoholic beverage served in the VX-5 suite was beer.
The suite was popular because it showed videotapes of aircraft flight
operations, to include footage of Operation Desert Storm and aircraft
testing. By many accounts, the pool patio area just outside the VX-
5 suite was a popular gathering place because it was relatively un-
crowded and convenient to obtain beer in the VX-5 suite. CAPT Van
Sickle, the CO, stated that prior to Tailhook '91, the VX-5 squadron
members were instructed they were not to drink while assigned as
suite duty officers. They were also instructed to keep the suite clean
and stocked with food and beverages, to guard against rowdy behav-
ior, and not to serve alcohol to minors. The CO advised that CAPT
Ludwig's letter of August 15, 1991, was referenced in passing the
instructions to the squadron members. The interviews of the squad-
ron members generally corroborated the information.
There was no derogatory information developed regarding spe-
cific activities within the suite.
Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron
101 (VMFAT-101)
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
Santa Ana, CA
Hilton Suite Number: 355
Commanding Officer: COL George C. Tullos, USMC
(attended Tailhook '91)
Executive Officer:
(attended Tailhook '91)
Contributing Squadrons:
VMFAT-101
Squadron Members Attending: Approximately 50
[ 152 ]
Squadron Suite Summaries
Suite Financing:
Individual assessments of
VMFAT-101 officers
Hours of Operation:
Thursday, 2 p.m. to Friday, 2
a.m.; Friday, 2 p.m. to
Saturday, 2 a.m.; Saturday, 2
p.m. to Sunday, 2 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:
Draft beer and hard liquor
mixed drinks
Total Cost of Alcohol:
$600
Total Cost of Suite Damage: Unable to determine; charges
assessed for cleaning only; no
damages reported
The VMFAT-101 suite was located in a remote area from the main,
crowded area of the third-floor hallway. Investigation disclosed there
was no inappropriate entertainment sponsored by the squadron. By
most accounts, the atmosphere in the suite was subdued and unre-
markable. The suite had beer and hard-liquor mixed drinks, but did
not serve any specialty drinks.
The VMFAT-101 CO stated that prior to Tailhook '91 he in-
structed his squadron as to their expected conduct at the convention
and cited CAPT Ludwig's letter of August 15, 1991. The CO said
he told his subordinate officers they were to act appropriately as they
would in any social setting or military event. The CO also told us he
instructed the suite duty officers and other squadron members they
were not to get involved in drinking contests or allow underage
drinking. Further, they were told not to allow any damage to occur
to the suite and they should all help to police the suite.
A junior officer assigned to the VMFAT-101 squadron recalled
attending numerous "all officers meetings during which there were
general discussions among the officers that good judgment and com-
mon sense should be exercised at Tailhook '91 . However, despite the
CO's contentions, the junior officer did not recall any specific formal
guidance offered by his command and said he never saw CAPT Lud-
wig's letter of August 15, 1991. The officer said, although he did
not receive specific cautions from his command, he was aware from
previous attendance at Tailhook conventions that behavior could get
[ 153 1
Appendix E
out of control. The junior officer said he recalled that most of the
official discussion at the all-officers meetings involving Tailhook re-
lated to the logistics of transportation and purchasing of alcohol for
the squadron hospitality suite. He stated that in addition to serving
drinks, the VMFAT-101 also supplied squadron stickers (zappers)
and T-shirts as liaison gifts. He emphasized that all the items were
paid for by the squadron members.
The VMFAT-101 chartered a bus using money from the officers'
coffee fund. An estimated 30 to 40 squadron members traveled to
Tailhook '91 on the bus.
Most witnesses who told us they visited the VMFAT-101 suite
described it in terms such as "quiet" and "uneventful." There were,
however, a few reported events that bear mentioning.
At one point, a butt-biting episode took place in the suite. A for-
eign exchange officer assigned to the VMFAT-101 bit a woman on
the hip and buttocks. The woman involved in the incident said that
while she did not find the incident amusing, neither did she consider
herself a "victim." She said that she and the Marine Corps officers
who were with her when the incident occurred handled it at the time.
She said the man who bit her later apologized after he sobered up.
A male Marine Corps officer who is a friend of the woman reported
that he and the VMFAT-101 CO were standing and talking with the
woman when she was bitten. The CO stated he had no recollection
of witnessing the incident.
At least seven people reported that a Marine Corps officer as-
signed to the VMFAT-101 was involved in some fight or altercation
during which he was pushed into a concrete planter on the pool patio
and injured his back. The details of the various accounts of the inci-
dent were not consistent. According to the injured officer, at about
10:00 p.m. on Friday he was standing on the pool patio in the rain
talking to an acquaintance who is a Naval Reserve officer. The Ma-
rine Corps officer said he had been drinking since 2:00 p.m. and was
"feeling no pain." He started to splash water from rain puddles on
the other officer who pushed him. As he fell backwards, the Marine
officer's lower right back hit the corner of a concrete planter. He said
hitting the planter made him "instantly sober" and "clear headed."
He was advised by the squadron CO and a Navy flight surgeon to
seek medical attention. The X-ray examination showed he had
chipped some bones.
A Navy lieutenant said he witnessed a ballwalking incident that
might have occurred in the VMFAT-101 suite. Our investigation dis-
[154]
Squadron Suite Summaries
closed that at least three VMFAT-101 squadron members ball walked
at Tailhook '91 . One of the officers denied doing so until confronted
with a photograph of him ball walking.
Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1
(MAWTS-1)
Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, AZ
Hilton Suite Number:
356
Commanding Officer:
COL Michael P. Delong,
USMC (did not attend
Tailhook '91)
Executive Officer:
None at the time of Tailhook
'91
Contributing Squadrons:
VMFT-401 and VMFA-134
Squadron Members Attending: 17 from MAWTS-1 , 4-6 from
VMFT-401, and 5 from
VMFA-134
Suite Financing:
For MAWTS-1 members,
initial voluntary payment of
$75 , with second voluntary
assessment of $59; for VMFT-
401 and VMFA-134, voluntary
payments ranging from $25 to
$50 for each attendee
Hours of Operation:
Friday, 4:00 p.m. to 12:00
midnight; Saturday, 4:00 p.m.
to Sunday, 3:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:
Keg beer
[ 155 1
Appendix E
Total Cost of Alcohol: $411.13
Total Cost of Suite Damage: $1 14.50 for carpet and sofa
cleaning and damage to the
telephone
The MAWTS-1 was organized and administered as a 4 4 staging
place" for the squadron members to gather and socialize. There was
no entertainment provided other than the display of various aircraft
photographs, slide shows, and videos.
The suite coordinator told us that prior to the symposium, the CO
decided to provide transportation for the squadron members to and
from Las Vegas. Two enlisted personnel drove a Marine Corps Mo-
rale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) vehicle carrying the MAWTS-
1 squadron members to the symposium. During the convention, the
enlisted personnel stayed on temporary travel status at Nellis Air
Force Base, Las Vegas, NV. Also prior to the symposium, two mem-
oranda were sent to all potential squadron attendees discussing the
logistical efforts and conduct in the suite. A copy of CAPT Ludwig's
letter of August 15, 1991, regarding various problems at previous
Tailhook conventions was made available for each attendee to read
before attending the symposium. The CO, suite coordinator, and
squadron attendees decided prior to the symposium that the suite
would be managed in a professional manner. The squadron's intent
was to advertise its operational capabilities of providing instructor-
level training and certification and to recruit the "best of the best"
to become future Marine Corps instructor pilots. To appear more
professional, attendees were told to wear their MAWTS-1 black polo
shirts on Friday night and their white polo shirts on Saturday night.
The activities in the MAWTS-1 suite were described by Tailhook
attendees as "boring" as there was no alcohol available in the suite
until 11:30 p.m. on Saturday night. Information provided by a
squadron member indicated that "soft porno" pictures, specifically
of naked women, were presented during one of the slide shows.
Fixed Wing Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 57 (VR-57)
Naval Air Station, North Island, CA
Hilton Suite Number: 357
[ 156]
Squadron Suite Summaries
Commanding Officer:
Executive Officer:
Contributing Squadrons:
Squadron Members Attending:
Suite Financing:
Hours of Operation:
Type of Alcohol Served:
Total Cost of Alcohol:
CDR Philip J. Swartz, USNR
(attended Tailhook '91)
(attended Tailhook '91)
Ten C-9 (VR) squadrons
Seven VR-57 officers and an
undetermined number of
officers from the other 10 VR
squadrons
Voluntary contributions (of no
pre-set amount) from members
of the various VR squadrons
Thursday, 6:00 p.m. to Friday,
2:00 a.m.; Friday, 12:00 noon
to Saturday, 2:00 a.m.;
Saturday, 12:00 noon to
Sunday, 2:00 a.m.
Keg beer and mixed drinks
$1,115
Total Cost of Suite Damage: None
The VR-57 hospitality suite was administered by VR-57 and was
funded by squadron members throughout the VR community. The
squadrons are Naval Reserve units. The CO told us the primary pur-
pose of the suite was to afford those Naval Reserve officers assigned
to the squadrons, as well as former officers, a place to meet and relax
while at Tailhook '91 .
One squadron member said that before Tailhook '91 , the CO held
an all-officers meeting to determine which squadron members would
be attending the convention. It was decided that duty officers would
be present in the hospitality suite whenever the suite was open and
further agreed that the squadron would hire a woman from the San
Diego area to tend bar in the suite during the evening hours. The
squadron paid the woman's transportation and lodging expenses
[ 157]
Appendix E
while she was in Las Vegas. The CO informed us that his directions
for conduct at Tailhook '91 were that there was to be no activity in
the suite that would be embarrassing for the squadron or the Navy.
By most accounts, the suite was one of the more subdued hospi-
tality suites at the convention. The suite offered a full-service bar
that was operated during the evening and early morning hours. The
bartender told us mat while in the suite she did not observe any
improper conduct. She did note that on Friday evening two women
entered the suite from the third-floor hallway after having had nu-
merous drinks thrown on them by unknown aviators. The women
were provided with dry clothing. The XO informed us that on Sat-
urday evening, the duty officer identified an underage female in the
room and escorted her out of the suite. The CO told us there was one
reported incident of "leg shaving" in the suite. He learned of the
incident after the convention and described it as an isolated matter
and not a planned activity as in other suites. Although there were
other reported incidents of "leg shaving" at Tailhook '91, no relia-
ble information was developed regarding any other such incidents in
the VR-57 suite.
Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Four (VX-4)
Naval Air Station, Point Mugu, CA
Hilton Suite Number: 360
Commanding Officer: CAPT Thomas A. Perkins,
USN (attended Tailhook '91)
Executive Officer:
(attended Tailhook '91)
Contributing Squadrons:
VX-4
Squadron Members Attending: 32
Suite Financing:
VX-4 Officer Fund, individual
assessments, and the sale of T-
shirts at air shows
[ 158]
Squadron Suite Summaries
Hours of Operation:
Thursday, 5:00 p.m. to Friday,
4:00 a.m.; Friday, 5:00 p.m.
to Saturday, 4:30 a.m.;
Saturday, 5:00 p.m. to
Sunday, 5:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:
Beer and "bushwhackers
Total Cost of Alcohol:
$8,500
Total Cost of Suite Damage:* $1 ,800
The CO and XO of the VX-4 advised that prior to Tailhook '91 they
decided they wanted their suite to be a class act. The XO explained
that, because the VX-4 is the operational and test evaluation unit for
all of the Navy F-18 and F-14 air-to-air missile and related software
products, he anticipated there would be a number of contractor ex-
ecutives and high-ranking naval officers visiting the suite. He also
expected there would be a number of junior officers visiting the suite
who might be interested in assignments with the VX-4. The XO said
it was important, therefore, that the VX-4 suite be operated profes-
sionally and with decorum. He noted that, prior to Tailhook '91, he
recieved a letter and a telephone call from CAPT Ludwig, the Tail-
hook Association President and former VX-4 CO, regarding appro-
priate behavior at the convention. The XO said CAPT Ludwig told
him he wanted the VX-4 squadron to maintain its good image, and
that CAPT Ludwig indicated he did not want strippers performing in
the suites at Tailhook '91.
The CO and XO said they set ground rules for the operation of the
suite. The suite was not open before 5:00 p.m. each day. The CO
also said he denied a request from the squadron members to have
strippers perform in the suite. The XO told us he and the CO decided
not to have strippers in the suite because they did not know how the
strippers might conduct themselves. Several squadron members
*The VX-4 CO advised that the Hilton Hotel billed the squadron $1,800 to
replace carpet damaged by cigarette burns and spilled drinks. The squadron
disputed those damages and asked the Tailhook Association to intervene with
the hotel. The CO said he has been advised by Mr. Ron Thomas, the Executive
Director of the Tailhook Association, that the Hilton Hotel decided not to pursue
the matter.
[ '59 ]
Appendix E
stated that prior to Tailhook '91 they did receive instructions from
the XO about such things as the administration of the suite, the dress
code, and that the VX-4 suite was to be conducted with higher stan-
dards than some of the other squadron suites.
According to the primary suite coordinator, the suite was funded
by collecting $10 per month over a one-year period from each of the
squadron members who were planning to attend Tailhook '91. He
said there was no command influence or coercion in collecting the
money and if anyone refused to contribute, it meant they were not
going to attend. The goal was to collect $4,000 to pay for the suite
operation and any damages that might result. Another suite coordi-
nator told us the funding also came from the sale of squadron T-
shirts at air shows. He said after the initial $4,000 was spent in Las
Vegas on the suite rental and the purchase of alcohol, approximately
$4,500 more was raised by asking all VX-4 squadron officers to each
contribute an additional $40 and by using a number of personal
credit cards.
The VX-4 suite served beer and a specialty drink called "bush-
whackers" made from rum and Kahlua. The bushwhackers proved
to be a popular drink, which apparently was the reason why the suite
overspent on its alcohol budget. Early on Friday evening, the suite
stopped serving bushwhackers for a time so as not to run out later.
The suite had a drink machine and bar and showed videos of some
VX-4 flight operations. According to information submitted by the
VX-4 CO to the Naval Inspector General in November 1991, the
suite hours of operation were from 5:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. each day.
Several suite coordinators and bartenders stated, however, that the
suite remained open until 4:30 a.m. or 5:00 a.m. all three days of
the symposium.
The VX-4 squadron logo/mascot is the Playboy Bunny symbol.
The VX-4 hired two cocktail waitresses, described as college-age
girls dressed in rented Playboy Bunny costumes, consisting of short,
black tuxedo jackets, leotards, and bunny ears and tails, to serve
drinks in the suite. On Saturday night around 11:00 p.m. to 12:00
midnight, a drunken male reportedly grabbed one of the waitresses
on the buttocks and tore off her bunny tail. The man was escorted
out of the suite. The squadron also hired a female bartender who was
reportedly dressed in shorts and a polo shirt. A male Air Force offi-
cer assigned to VX-4 stated he was given a squadron T-shirt that he
wore while helping to distribute drinks. Several persons who visited
the suite, including one female naval officer, described the bartender
[ 160]
Squadron Suite Summaries
and cocktail waitresses as being conservatively and tastefully
dressed.
A number of those who visited the suite described it as ' 'mellow"
and "dignified." One junior officer, who stated that he spent a good
deal of time talking to people in the VX-4 suite because he was
interested in getting assigned to that squadron, described the VX-4
members as a prestigious, clean, neat group. Another officer stated
he was in and out of the VX-4 suite several times over the weekend
and he remembered several fully clothed females, dressed in black,
dancing in the suite.
The VX-4 squadron members who were interviewed consistently
reported there were no strippers, pornographic movies, or other in-
appropriate entertainment in the suite. However, other persons gave
descriptions of the VX-4 suite that contradicted those of the squad-
ron members. Most notable were the several reports of strippers per-
forming in the VX-4 suite. At least eight male Navy or Marine Corps
officers, none of whom were VX-4 members, stated they either
heard of or saw strippers performing in the VX-4 suite. It is impor-
tant to note that only one of those officers said with certainty that he
saw the stripper in the VX-4 suite. The recollections of the others
were not as specific, but they all mentioned the VX-4 suite as pos-
sibly or probably where they saw or heard about strippers perform-
ing.
Two other specific accounts of strippers performing in the VX-4
suite came from two civilian women. The two women were inter-
viewed independently and gave similar accounts of going into the
VX-4 suite sometime just after 11:00 p.m. on Saturday night, im-
mediately after being assaulted in the gauntlet. One of the victims
said that while in the VX-4 suite she saw a woman dancing on a table
who took off her top, baring her breasts. The other victim said that
she observed two strippers dancing in the VX-4 suite. She said be-
cause of the crowd in the room she could only see the upper bodies
of the women, both of whom had their breasts exposed. She com-
mented that she thought the strippers were either standing on some
elevated platform or were on someone's shoulders because their
hands were touching the ceiling. She also recalled the rap song 4 'Me
So Horny" was playing on the stereo. Both witnesses said that at the
same time they saw the strippers performing there was a porno-
graphic movie playing on the television screen. Both women said,
with some degree of certainty, that it was in the VX-4 suite where
they witnessed those events. One of the women specifically men-
[ 161 ]
Appendix E
tioned relating the events to the Playboy Bunny symbol represented
in the suite. The CO of the VX-4 was recontacted after his initial
interview in an effort to reconcile the contradictory accounts of
whether there were strippers in the suite. He reiterated his initial
statements that he had denied the squadron's request for permission
to have strippers perform, and he had no knowledge of strippers or
pornographic entertainment in the VX-4 suite at Tailhook '91. The
VX-4 CO also said he was in the immediate vicinity or actually in
the VX-4 suite on Saturday night during the times when the two
women gauntlet victims said they saw strippers in the suite.
Investigation disclosed that the VX-4 suite was located in the area
where the gauntlet ended. Numerous people described being in the
hallway near the VX-4 suite when they saw women exit the gauntlet
who appeared to have been grabbed, groped, or more seriously as-
saulted. One female victim said she and another woman were as-
saulted in the gauntlet and that they sought refuge in the VX-4 suite.
She stated they locked themselves in the suite bathroom and dis-
cussed their shock at being assaulted. There was one reported in-
stance where a Navy lieutenant witnessed a visibly upset woman
with a torn blouse, either in or near the VX-4 suite, who was being
followed by three men who were laughing and urging the woman to
come back to them. Investigation failed to identify either the woman
or the three men. The lieutenant who witnessed the incident and who
gave assistance to the woman was killed in an aircraft crash in Feb-
ruary 1992. Other VX-4 squadron members reported hearing of the
incident secondhand. The VX-4 CO reported that he heard the terms
"gauntlet" and 4 'admiral's aide" yelled from the hall while he was
in the VX-4 suite. Aside from those reports, there were no VX-4
squadron members who admitted having witnessed gauntlet activity
or seen women in distress.
Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA)
Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, TX
*******
Training Squadron 24 (VT-24)
Training Wing III
Naval Air Station, Beeville, TX
Hilton Suite Number: 364
[ 162 ]
Squadron Suite Summaries
Commanding Officer:
Executive Officer:
Contributing Squadrons:
Squadron Members Attending:
Suite Financing:
Hours of Operation:
Type of Alcohol Served:
Total Cost of Alcohol:
Total Cost of Suite Damage:
RADM William P. McGowen,
USN (attended Tailhook '91)
CDR Austin G. Abercrombie,
USN (VT-24) (attended
Tailhook '91)
(attended Tailhook '91)
VT-24 and all other squadrons
and miscellaneous commands
within the CNATRA
organizational structure
Approximately 400* CNATRA
officers
$5,000 surplus from CNATRA
hospitality suite at Tailhook
'90 and individual assessments
of $35 from participating
officers
Thursday, 2:00 p.m. to Friday,
2:00 a.m.; Friday, 2:00 p.m.
to Saturday, 2:00 a.m.;
Saturday, 2:00 p.m. to
Sunday, 2:00 a.m.
Margaritas, beer, open bar
Estimated at $5,000 to $7,000
(exact amount unavailable)
Some carpet damage reported
(exact amount unavailable)
*The CNATRA records indicate that approximately 400 officers contributed
funds for operation of the CNATRA suite. However, one naval officer in charge
of transportation estimated that as many as 800 CNATRA officers attended.
[ 163 1
Appendix E
The Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) is a major Navy com-
mand responsible for the training of Navy and Marine Corps aviators
and aviation support personnel such as landing signal officers
(LSOs). The CNATRA is headquartered at NAS Corpus Christi,
Texas. The CNATRA encompasses a large number of training squad-
rons and other subordinate commands located at various locations
primarily in Texas, Florida,* and Mississippi.
By many accounts, the CNATRA has hosted one of the most pop-
ular hospitality suites at the Tailhook conventions. In recent years,
many aviators told us they made it a point to visit the CNATRA suite
in the hope of meeting persons they knew from flight school either
as instructors or fellow students. Many of those who went to Tail-
hook '91 from the training commands were among the youngest
officers at the convention and told us that was their first visit to Tail-
hook. No fewer than 400 people told us they visited the CNATRA
suite at some point during Tailhook '91.
Historically, the CNATRA suite has been hosted by one of the
training squadrons within the command, with responsibility to host
the suite passing from one squadron to another each year. Report-
edly, the suite was funded by contributions from officers assigned to
the various CNATRA squadrons, with any surplus funds turned over
to the squadron responsible for the next year's suite. A Navy com-
mander responsible for the suite in 1985 and 1986 told us that in
*At the time of Tailhook '91, the CNATRA was organized into six training
wings, each of which had subordinate training squadrons and/or other subordi-
nate commands. Training Wing I, located at NAS Meridian, Mississippi, con-
sists of training squadrons VT-7 and VT-19. Training Wing II, located at NAS
Kings ville, Texas, consists of squadrons VT-21, VT-22, and VT-23. Training
Wing III was located at NAS Beeville, Texas, and consisted of squadrons VT-
24, VT-25, and VT-26. (Training Wing III and all three squadrons were decom-
missioned in 1992. The NAS Beeville, Texas was closed on February 1, 1993.)
Training Wing IV, located at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, includes squadrons
VT-27, VT-28, and VT-31. Training Wing V, located at NAS Whiting Field,
Florida, consists of squadrons VT-2, VT-3, and VT-6, a Marine Training Sup-
port Group (MATSG), and squadrons HT-8 and HT-18. Training Wing VI,
located at NAS Pensacola, Florida, consists of squadrons VT-4, VT-10, and
VT-86. Other CNATRA subordinate commands located at NAS Pensacola in-
clude the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels), the Navy Avia-
tion School Command, and a Marine Training Support Group. The CNATRA
also includes a Naval Air Training United located at Mather Air Force Base,
California.
1 164 1
Squadron Suite Summaries
years prior to and including 1985 any CNATRA officers attending
Tailhook would each donate $1. He said that additional funding in
those years came from squadron- sponsored fund raisers such as pool
parties and golf tournaments. He went on to say that at Tailhook '86,
the CNATRA rented a larger suite at the Hilton Hotel. In order to
raise the additional money needed to fund the larger suite, each per-
son who attended was required to pay a $25 fee to "step" into the
room and enjoy the bar and activities.
Several witnesses connected the CNATRA suite to incidents they
recalled from past Tailhooks. For example, a Navy lieutenant com-
mander, a member of the Tailhook Association since 1977 who had
only missed one Tailhook convention in the last 15 years, told us
about an incident he observed in the CNATRA suite during Tailhook
'85. He said that a woman attempted to perform an amateur strip
show in another suite but was escorted out. She then went to the
adjacent CNATRA suite where she was encouraged by clapping and
shouting. He observed the woman in a state of undress, bouncing on
the bed. The officer recalled that one of the males in the suite re-
moved his own clothing, got behind the woman while she was on all
fours, and attempted to have sexual intercourse with her. He went
on to say that he recalled the man was having some difficulty, he
presumed because of the crowd of people watching.
Witnesses related instances of stripper performances, ballwalkers,
other acts of indecent exposure, and public sex acts that took place
in the CNATRA suite during the years 1985 through 1990. A Marine
Corps officer told us that, in one particular incident during Tailhook
'90, he witnessed four or five men throw a couch out of an open
window in the CNATRA suite. Three other Navy lieutenants inde-
pendently reported the same incident. The three lieutenants stated
that although they had not personally witnessed the incident, they
were certain it had occurred. Another five naval officers each re-
ported they had heard of the event, but had no first-hand knowledge.
Of the nine persons who mentioned the couch incident to us, not one
could (or would) identify the persons who had done it. One of the
three lieutenants who did not personally witness the incident, but
who said he knew that it had actually happened, wrote an article
about his squadron's experiences at Tailhook '90. In the September
21, 1990, edition of "The Flying K," a publication of the NAS
Kingsville, Texas, the officer wrote:
The 1990 Tailhook Symposium is over. The good
news is that all Redhawks returned home relatively
[ 165 ]
Appendix E
unharmed and none were convicted of any crimes
(felonies, that is). This is not to say that there was any
lack of excitement at the 34th annual convention held
in the Las Vegas Hilton.
The days were filled with interesting lectures, fo-
rums, and, demonstrations, while the nights were
characterized by celebration, joviality, and debauch-
ery. Once again the CNATRA Suite proved to be the
most hospitable and popular. . . .
In three fun filled nights, CNATRA visitors
drained the suite of 40 kegs of beer, 450 gallons of
margaritas containing 315 liters of tequila and 15
cases of liquor.
Conveniently located on the third floor overlooking
the parking lot, the suite provided a base for the flight
testing of various household objects. LT [name de-
leted] commented on this activity. "The couch failed
its initial spin evaluation and suffered complete strike
damage. The garbage cans proved, to the dismay of
the 'engineers,' to be more aerodynamic than the
couch."
Airborne furniture turned out to be just a portion
of the fun, thanks to the entertainment committee of
LT[s] [names deleted] . . . While [names deleted]
called upon their management skills as "performer
liaison officers," [name deleted] chose to entertain
the crowd with his own rendition of the Vegas Shuffle.
There was no encore.
The naval officer who wrote the article told us the amount of alcohol
consumption reported in the article was factual. He also added that
on the first night (Thursday) of Tailhook '90 there were trash cans
thrown out of the CNATRA suite window. He said that, out of con-
cern someone on the parking lot three floors below might be injured,
it was decided to have the Hilton Hotel bolt the windows shut and
that was accomplished by the second night. He said the couch was
thrown out the window on Saturday night after someone apparently
managed to unbolt the windows. He recalled the Hilton Hotel was
paid $800 for the couch that had been destroyed.
The CNATRA suite at Tailhook '91 was hosted by training squad-
ron VT-24 (now decommissioned) from the NAS Beeville, Texas.
[ i66]
Squadron Suite Summaries
According to the CNATRA command and the VT-24 CO, the squad-
ron received $5,000, which represented surplus funds from Tailhook
'90 when the CNATRA suite had been hosted by VT-22. According
to the VT-24 CO and XO, an additional $10,000 to $15,000 was
raised from individual $35 assessments levied on each of the partic-
ipating CNATRA officers. According to the VT-24 CO, there was a
surplus of approximately $5,000 after Tailhook '91 . That money was
divided equally and deposited to the Navy Recreation Funds at Pen-
sacola, Florida, and Corpus Christi, Texas.
According to the CNATRA Chief of Staff, tickets were initially
distributed to officers who paid their $35, but it was later ordered
there not be any further tickets distributed for fear it might be mis-
construed that the $35 payment was for travel to Tailhook on the
Navy C-9 flights. Nonetheless, at least five officers told us they were
under the impression their contribution went toward operation of the
CNATRA suite and transportation to Las Vegas on the Navy C-9
flights.
The CNATRA command and the VT-24 CO told us instructions
were given to the officers who served as duty officers in the suite and
that the instructions included a prohibition on "dancing girls" (strip-
pers), as well as the need for crowd control, suite clean-up details,
authorized hours of operation, and the authority of duty officers to
eject anyone who was "out of control." The VT-24 CO also stated
that he instructed the four lieutenants who were primarily responsible
for the operation of the suite that he did not want the men in the suite
to act like animals, and he explicitly told them he did not want any
strippers in the suite. The VT-24 XO told us he recalled that the CO
instructed the primary suite coordinator that he wanted everything to
be "by the book" and he expected appropriate behavior. The VT-
24 CO said the four suite coordinators lodged in a suite on the third
floor adjacent to the CNATRA suite.
The COs of some other training squadrons told us they also gave
instructions to officers under their command. A Navy commander,
who was the CO of VT-19 at the time of Tailhook '91, said that
before the C-9 flight left for Las Vegas he advised his squadron not
to embarrass the command, to be careful, and to take care of them-
selves. He added that he did not allow any students to attend Tail-
hook if they had never landed on a carrier. The CO of VT-22, who
was the XO of the same squadron at the time of Tailhook '91, said
that he encouraged all of his subordinate officers to attend. He also
recalled giving the VT-22 squadron members his "sex, drugs, and
[ 167]
Appendix E
rock and roll" speech prior to the symposium. He said he cautioned
his squadron about AIDS, one-night stands, and drinking to excess.
He told them not to do anything about which they might be ashamed
and that they would be held accountable for their actions at Tailhook.
He said he told them to have a good time, but that they were expected
to attend and participate in the official symposium professional pre-
sentations. He said he told them not to take their clothes off in pub-
lic.
Junior officers assigned to the training squadrons at the time of
Tailhook '91 said they went to Tailhook for various reasons. Some
said they believed they were expected to attend and that it would
reflect poorly on them if they did not go. Some said they were en-
couraged to attend Tailhook '91 in order to participate in the sym-
posiums and mingle in the CNATRA suite where they could meet
fellow aviators and build a foundation for their careers. Others said
they attended Tailhook '91 primarily for the social aspects. Accord-
ing to the CNATRA command in its written submission to the Navy
IG, "No mandatory attendance was required (of CNATRA officers)
at any official event or social activity."
The VT-24 CO and XO said they periodically stopped at the
CNATRA suite every day /evening of the symposium. The CO said
he would check with the four lieutenants assigned as suite coordina-
tors to get a verbal report on the evening's activities. He recalled he
was told that on Friday night there were a few people thrown out of
the suite because they had too much to drink. The VT-24 CO also
recalled that at about 9:00 p.m. on Friday, a lieutenant from VT-26
told him that money had been collected from men in the CNATRA
suite for a stripper performance. The CO said he was initially op-
posed to the idea, but he then gave permission for the stripper to
perform for two songs. The CO said he was present when the stripper
performed and he ensured that she left the suite after two songs. That
was corroborated by the XO and by a lieutenant. The lieutenant told
us that on Friday night the VT-24 CO approached him and instructed
him to get the stripper out of the suite. The lieutenant recalled the
CO gave him the keys to a suite adjoining the CNATRA suite where
he escorted her after her performance. The lieutenant added that the
stripper dressed and immediately left to do her act at another suite.
He also recalled that the VT-24 CO was pretty upset the stripper was
performing in the CNATRA suite.
Despite the CO's statements he had permitted a stripper in the
CNATRA suite only for one brief performance on Friday evening,
[ 168]
Squadron Suite Summaries
our investigation identified witnesses who stated there were strippers
in the suite on other nights as well. At least 52 people told us there
were strippers in the CNATRA suite at Tailhook '91. Eighteen of
those said a stripper performed on Friday night. Eleven people said
a stripper performed on Saturday, and two people recalled seeing a
stripper in the CNATRA suite on Thursday. The other 21 witnesses
recalled seeing a stripper in the CNATRA suite but could not specify
the night. Most of the descriptions of the strippers' performances
were consistent in that the acts were unremarkable and there was
minimal contact between the strippers and the audience except for
an occasional tip placed in the strippers' G-strings.
There was a ballwalking incident in the CNATRA suite on Satur-
day evening. A lieutenant junior grade admitted that he and four
other officers ball walked in the suite on a dare. A female Navy en-
sign stated she was assaulted on Saturday night in the suite when a
drunken man placed his hands on her breasts.
There were two female cocktail waitresses serving drinks each
night in the CNATRA suite. Both women wore black shorts and
Tailhook '91 T-shirts provided by the suite coordinators and worked
strictly for tips.
The waitresses described their experiences over the three days as
unpleasant, reporting that they were continually pinched, grabbed,
and groped by the men in the suite and that the men placed squadron
stickers on their breasts and buttocks even though the women repeat-
edly told the men to stop. They also said the men looked down their
T-shirts and suggested that they could make better tips if they cut
their T-shirts to be more revealing. One waitress said the men
grabbed her T-shirt, pulled it open, and looked at her breasts. Both
waitresses said they were subjected to vulgar and lewd comments
from the men in the suite. One waitress said she was bitten on the
buttocks in the suite on Saturday night. The other woman said she
saw men ballwalking in the suite on Saturday night. Both waitresses
agreed that the behavior of the men in the suite got progressively
more vulgar from Thursday to Saturday. One said the men in the
suite went "crazy" during the Saturday night stripper performance
and they subsequently refused to serve drinks while the stripper was
performing. Only two of the male aviators we interviewed who stated
they were in the CNATRA suite mentioned the treatment of the wait-
resses. Both men commented that they saw the waitresses get zapped
on the buttocks with squadron stickers while one recalled that the
[ 169 )
Appendix E
waitresses seemed agreeable to the zapping and that they wore re-
vealing clothing.
The admiral who commands CNATRA, RADM McGowen, told
us he was in the CNATRA suite on Thursday and Friday evenings.
That was consistent with other reports by junior officers. The admiral
said he did not observe any unacceptable behavior while he was in
the CNATRA suite but he later "learned that they had a stripper in
there one night." He further said it was his understanding that the
CO of VT-24 acted properly in having the stripper leave after just a
short performance in which nothing improper occurred. He also told
us he was not certain if he was on the third floor on Saturday night
but was definitely not in the suite on Saturday.
Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (strkfightwingpac)
Naval Air Station, Lemoore, CA
Hilton Suite Number:
Commanding Officer:
Executive Officer:
Contributing Squadrons:
Squadron Members Attending:
Suite Financing:
Hours of Operation:
371
CAPT D. C. Kendall, USN
(attended Tailhook '91)
(attended Tailhook '91)
VFA-125, 27, 97, 113, 125,
127, 146, 151; VAQ-34; Strike
Fighter Weapons School; and
Association of Naval Aviation
21 from VFA-125 and
approximately 53 from the
other contributing squadrons
$4,000 from the above-
referenced contributing
squadrons
Thursday, 2:00 p.m. to Friday,
4:00 a.m.; Friday, 8:00 a.m.
to Saturday, 3:00 a.m.;
Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to
Sunday, 3:00 a.m.
[ ijo ]
Squadron Suite Summaries
Type of Alcohol Served: Keg beer and premixed drinks
Total Cost of Alcohol: $ 1 ,030
Total Cost of Suite Damage: No damage; additional $100
cleaning fee
Strike Fighter Squadron One Two Five (VFA-125), Naval Air Station
Lemoore, CA, was the host squadron for the hospitality suite in room
370. Although the suite was administered by the VFA-125, it was
funded by the various squadrons that make up the STRKFTGHT-
WINGPAC. Squadron members told us the purpose of the suite was
to afford those officers from the VFA-125 and the other contributing
squadrons a place to meet while at the convention. The suite was set
up to display the activities and highlight the accomplishments of the
Strike Fighter Wings. The focal point of the suite was a 5-hour video
featuring the F/A-18 Hornet. According to Tailhook attendees, the
suite also sponsored entertainment in the form of music and dancing,
and served two specialty drinks, "cubi specials" and "hornet sting-
ers." The suite coordinators informed us they used the services of
two bartenders and three waitresses in the suite on Friday and Sat-
urday evenings to assist in the serving of alcoholic beverages.
The VFA-125 XO told us that, prior to Tailhook '91, squadron
members were lectured by the CO as to their conduct and behavior
at the convention. Specific instructions were given prohibiting por-
nographic movies or the hiring of strippers as entertainment for the
suite. Squadron members confirmed that such instructions were
given by the CO and included information from CAPT Ludwig's
letter of August 15, 1991 , regarding problems at previous Tailhooks.
Information provided by VFA-125 members during the course of
the investigation reflected that at previous Tailhooks (and recom-
mended for use at future Tailhooks) the squadron used invitations or
"invites" as a means to encourage female civilians to attend the
convention. Documents obtained from the squadron reflected re-
marks regarding the use of such "invites." In part, the instructions
read, "Invites are a nice thing to have and guys love to give them
out. If you are really aggressive you could mail them out to the
UNLV* sororities."
*Our investigation determined that eight UNLV female students were assaulted
1 171 ]
Appendix E
Fighter Squadron 124 (VF-124)
Naval Air Station, Miramar, CA
Hilton Suite Number: 373
Commanding Officer: CAPT George Moe, USN
(attended Tailhook '91)
Executive Officer: (attended Tailhook '91)
Contributing Squadrons: Fighter Squadrons VF-1, 2,
24, 51, 111, and 211
Squadron Members Attending: 78
Suite Financing: No individual assessment:
profits from the sale of
squadron memorabilia and
contributions of approximately
$4,500 from supporting
squadrons
Hours of Operation: Thursday, 3:00 p.m. to Friday,
2:00 a.m.; Friday, 3:00 p.m.
to Saturday, 2:00 a.m.;
Saturday, 3:00 p.m. to
Sunday, 2:00 a.m.; alcohol
served 3:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served: Keg beer and margaritas
Total Cost of Alcohol: $ 1 ,954
Total Cost of Suite Damage: $412 for damage (stains) to the
furniture
The VF-124 suite was called the "Fightertown" suite as it repre-
sented other fighter squadrons based at Naval Air Station, Miramar,
at Tailhook '91; two other local female college students who attended Tailhook
'91 at the suggestion of UNLV students were also assaulted. Seven of the ten
college students were under the legal drinking age of 21.
[172]
Squadron Suite Summaries
CA, and derived some of its funding to support the suite from those
squadrons. By most accounts, the "Fightertown" suite was orga-
nized and administered as an entertainment- type suite.
The squadron commander told us he received CAPT Ludwig's
letter of August 15, 1991, regarding various problems at previous
Tailhook conventions. The commander furnished documents pertain-
ing to specific guidance and instructions given by him on the admin-
istration of the suite and conduct at the convention, to specifically
include the treatment of female guests. During our interviews of
squadron members, a number of them confirmed receiving such in-
structions at an all-officers meeting prior to Tailhook '91. The com-
mander informed us he attended the convention out of an obligation
to his squadron and he visited the suite to ensure everything was
running smoothly. In addition to the commander, the squadron's ex-
ecutive officer attended Tailhook '91.
The entertainment in the suite, as described during the course of
our investigation, consisted of a disk jockey being hired each evening
to play music; one stripper hired for Friday evening and two strippers
hired for Saturday evening. In addition, pornographic movies were
shown at various times throughout the weekend and there were re-
ported incidents of group ball walking (involving as many as 10 men)
and public sexual acts in the suite. Also, underage females report-
edly had to be removed from the suite.
Witnesses stated that the stripper who performed on Friday eve-
ning received tips, in some instances by taking the money from the
aviator (dollar bills) with her vagina. The performance of Saturday
was further described as being lewd. On that night, the strippers
performed as sadomasochists and lesbians. Sexual contact between
a number of the aviators and the strippers was reported, to include
the strippers fondling the exposed genitals or sitting on the faces of
participating aviators. One of the strippers reportedly used a whip as
part of her act, using it to draw onlookers to the "stage" where they
then had physical contact with the strippers.
A number of aviators also said that, during the strippers' perform-
ance on Saturday evening, a male and female couple engaged in
sexual intercourse in the rear of the suite directly behind aviators
who stood watching the strippers perform.
The commander denied any previous knowledge of, or providing
authorization for, the hiring of strippers. The executive officer told
us that he had heard plans were being made for the hiring of strip-
pers. During the course of our investigation, the President of the
[ 173 1
Appendix E
Tailhook Association was questioned regarding the hiring of strip-
pers to perform at the convention. He stated that be personally tele-
phoned the commander of VF-124 prior to Tailhook 91 and asked
him not to have strippers at Tailhook '91 . Regarding the strippers'
performances, which occurred late in the evenings, squadron mem-
bers informed us mat the suite was very crowded at the time: that an
announcement as to the performance was made; that women were
present; and that the door to the suite was closed during the show.
A number of photographs were provided during our investigation
that depicted men (who were later identified as naval aviators) wear-
ing T-shirts imprinted with "HE-MAN WOMAN HATER CLUB"
and "WOMEN ARE PROPERTY." Our investigation determined
that the T-shirts originated sometime prior to Tailhook '91 and were
not specifical
nally sold by
Squadron n
process. The f
the hospitality
place were tok
were not assoc
vention. The T-shirts were origi-
d with the VF-124.
ltirelv candid during the inter. :e ••■
of the strippers' performances in
lation on the public sex acts taking
ajtmrlres who, for the most part,
Na\ \ Fighter Weapons School (Top Gl n
Naval Air Station. Miramar. San Diego. CA
Efifl
e N'urr
3~9 and 3 •
Commanding Officer:
CAPTJ. A. Robb, USN
(attended Tailhook '91)
Executive Officer:
• attended Tailhook "91
Contributing Squadrons:
S-'.z
Squadron Members Attending: 24
Suite
Squadron dues from the TOP
GUN Officers' Fund
[ 174]
Squadron Su
ite Summaries
Hours of Operation:
Thursday, 4:00 p.m. to Friday,
4:00 a.m.; Friday, 4:00 p.m.
to Saturday, 4:00 a.m.;
Saturday, 4:00 p.m. to
Sunday, 4:00 a.m.
Type of Alcohol Served:
Open bar drinks and keg beer
Total Cost of Alcohol:
$1,020
Total Cost of Suite Damage: $75 for carpet cleaning and
wallpaper damage
The Navy Fighter Weapons School hospitality suite was commonly
referred to as the TOP GUN suite. By most accounts, the TOP GUN
suite was organized and administered as an entertainment- type suite.
The XO told us he received CAPT Ludwig's letter of August 15,
1991. During a squadron briefing, the CO instructed his staff that he
was happy to have them attend Tailhook '91 but they were to conduct
themselves professionally. The XO and suite coordinators were told
to ensure that the suite was a 4 'class act." The CO further instructed
the staff that, since TOP GUN routinely hosted high-level corporate,
Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force management during the sympo-
sium, a positive atmosphere was imperative. The suite coordinators
were directed to screen for underage guests and not to allow any
inebriated individuals into the suite. Although there was one report
of University of Nevada Las Vegas students in the suite, the XO told
us that, while he bartended, he did not "card" anyone.
The entertainment in the suite, as described during the course of
our investigation, consisted of a display of aircraft weaponry and
tactical videos from the Persian Gulf War. The suite was described
by squadron members as "quiet" and "docile" in comparison to
other suites. One female Navy attendee related that she "felt com-
fortable in that suite because the guys were really nice." An open
bar serving beer, sodas, and mixed drinks featured "cubi specials"
as the suite's specialty drink. One squadron member told us that 12
full kegs of beer and 14 to 21 bottles of liquor were consumed in the
suite. Hot dogs were also served. The TOP GUN administrative of-
ficer provided $3,000 to the suite coordinators to finance the pur-
chase of liquor and hot dogs. The money had been obtained from the
sale of TOP GUN T-shirts and other collectibles from the TOP GUN
[175]
Appendix E
Memorabilia Shop at the Naval Air Station Miramar. Two female
civilian attendees stated they purchased Tailhook T-shirts in the suite
for $10.
One squadron member related that, before the symposium, every -
one attending had to sign up for jobs in the suite such as bartending,
serving hot dogs, changing videotapes, or selling T-shirts. The
"working list" was posted on the wall in the suite. Most squadron
members stated the bartending duties were fulfilled by members of
the squadron; however, one witness identified a civilian working as
a bartender in the suite.
Despite the information received from squadron members as de-
scribed above, it became evident during the course of our investiga-
tion that TOP GUN members had not been candid in providing any
information concerning suite activities such as pornographic videos,
stripper performances, indecent exposure, and discussions in the
suite about assaults that had occurred in the hallway. Specifically,
there were two reports of pornographic videos shown in the suite,
six reports of stripper performances, two reports of indecent expo-
sure, and three discussions about assaults that occurred in the hall-
way. Each of the instances was reported by members of either other
military units or civilian Tailhook attendees. There were no reports
of those incidents by current or prior TOP GUN squadron members.
Regarding the pornographic videos, a Navy officer could not re-
call which night he saw the videos, saying it could have been Thurs-
day, Friday, or Saturday night. A female civilian distinctly recalled
looking for one of the TOP GUN instructors and entering the suite
between 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday night when the lights
were dimmed, the curtains were drawn, and a pornographic video
was playing.
Some of the witnesses to the stripper performances were able to
recall which nights the strippers performed while other witnesses
were not. Two of the most vivid recollections were from one Navy
officer and one Marine Corps officer. The Navy officer reported that
at approximately 1 1:00 p.m. on Saturday night two strippers were in
the suite. While the audience cheered and clapped, one stripper per-
formed while the other handled the music. The Marine Corps officer
reported that he entered the suite, finding it "really packed" while
"several" professional strippers were performing on a "makeshift"
stage of coffee tables pulled together.
Other information not provided by TOP GUN members related to
discussions of assaults. Every TOP GUN member interviewed said
1*76]
Squadron Suite Summaries
they did not have any information concerning the assaults that took
place in the hallway; however, information developed through inter-
views of other military personnel, at best, appeared contrary. On
three separate occasions, conversations held in the suite indicated
that TOP GUN members were aware of assaults taking place in the
hallway. Specifically, one female attendee stated she told suite atten-
dees that she did not want to go down the hallway because men had
grabbed her buttocks when she went down it before. Another indi-
vidual recalled being told by suite occupants to go around rather than
through the hallway because women were getting grabbed there. A
third conversation took place when a Navy officer came into the suite
and said to the effect, "Hey, some guys down at the end of the
hallway just picked up a naked girl and dropped her [on the floor]."
Several witnesses related that the Secretary of the Navy, numer-
ous admirals, and various civilians and contractors visited the suite
at different times throughout the symposium. In particular, one
squadron member recalled having "to throw an admiral" and four
other men out of the suite at 5:00 a.m. Friday morning.
[177]
Appendix F
Individual Victim/Assault
Summaries
Victim Number 1
Status/Service/Rank: Lieutenant (0-3)
United States Navy/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Thursday , September 5 , 1 992 —
7:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 1 is a 29-year-old Navy lieutenant.
According to the victim, she entered the third-floor hallway at
approximately 7:00 p.m. As she walked up the hallway, she was
bitten on the buttocks. The victim turned, kicked her assailant in the
shins, and threw her drink on him. She was able to identify her
attacker as a foreign exchange pilot.
The victim felt that she handled the incident and objected to being
labeled as a "victim" despite the fact that the bite caused a bruise
on her buttocks.
Victim Number 2
Status/Service/Rank: Lieutenant (0-3)
United States Navy/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Thursday , September 5 , 1991 —
8:00 p.m.
[ /79l
Appendix F
Place of Incident: Hallway (just outside CNATRA
suite), Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 2 is a 31-year-old Navy lieutenant. She attended Tailhook '87
but did not participate in the related social activities in that year.
According to the* victim, she was talking to friends in the hallway
outside of the CNATRA suite when she was approached from behind
and bitten on the buttocks by an unidentified white male. She felt
something touch her buttocks, looked down and noticed a man bent
over with his face next to her buttocks. Before she realized she had
been bitten, the male fled the vicinity.
The victim witnessed the individual return to the area within 5
minutes of her attack and bite her female friend on the buttocks. The
man again quickly left the area. The victim and her friend subse-
quently referred to the individual as "Shark," as they had heard
other witnesses to the incidents use the name in describing the indi-
vidual.
Victim Number 3
Status/Service/Rank:
Date/Time of Incident:
Place of Incident:
Civilian/Female
Thursday, September 5, 1991 —
9:00 p.m.
Friday, September 6, 1991-2:00
a.m.
VMFAT-101 Administrative
Suite, Room 355
Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 3 is a 32-year-old civilian who resides in the San Diego,
California area. She attended Tailhook '91 with her friend, a male
Marine captain.
According to the victim, she and her friend were sitting in the
VMFAT-101 administrative suite, room 355, when she was bitten.
She described the assault as follows:
"A British pilot came up to me and bit me on the left hip. He bit
[ 180]
Victim/Assault Summaries
me hard enough that his one tooth went through my cloths [sic] and
broke the skin. The bite hurt me but I did not know I was bleeding
until I lifted up my clothes to look. I could smell alcohol and I think
he was very drunk." Her friend admonished the man, who apolo-
gized and walked away. At around 2:00 a.m. on Friday, the victim
was in the hallway on the third floor in the area of room 307. "The
same British guy came up behind me and bit me on the buttocks.
The British man had bitten me so hard that he left a welt on my
buttocks. It left a red mark and a large bruise. "
According to the victim's friend, he and the victim were standing
in the VMFAT-101 administrative suite when a man he recognized
as a foreign military exchange officer approached the victim from
behind and bit her on the buttocks. The victim shouted 4'0uch!" and
the witness told the man to "Knock it off. What are you doing?"
The witness opined that the foreign officer had had too much to
drink.
We note that this victim objected to being classified as a "victim"
despite the fact that she was the subject of a physical assault.
Victim Number 4
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Thursday, September 5, 1991 —
10:00-11:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Pool Patio, Third Floor, Las
Vegas Hilton
Victim 4 is a Federal Government employee.
According to the victim, she was standing on the pool patio talk-
ing with some friends when an unidentified man came up behind her
and bit her on the buttocks. She turned and told the man, "Don't
ever do that again." Approximately 30 minutes later, while the vic-
tim was still on the pool patio, the same man again approached her
and bit her on the buttocks. She turned and admonished the man.
She described him as being a white male who spoke with an Austra-
lian or English accent. About 30 minutes after the incident, the
victim remained on the pool patio. She was talking with two uniden-
tified men whom she described as senior Navy officers. While talk-
[ 181 }
Appendix F
ing to the two officers, a different man came up behind her, put his
arms around her, and grabbed both her breasts. She turned and
yelled at the man. One of two men she had been talking to said to
the man, 'There are some people you don't do that to." The man
then apologized but held up a "flight tag" and said, "See this ID,
this gives me the right."
Victim Number 5
Status/Service/Rank: Lieutenant (0-3)
United States Navy/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Thursday, September 5, 1991
Evening, Time Unknown
Place of Incident: Administrative Suite, Third Floor
Las Vegas Hilton
Victim 5 is a 25-year-old Navy lieutenant. She attended Tailhook '91
with one male and two female friends both of whom are Navy offi-
cers.
According to the victim, she went to the third floor of the Hilton
Hotel on Thursday evening and entered one of the administrative
suites in the vicinity of room 307. She was engaged in conversation
with two male military officers, when an unknown male approached
her and attempted to place his hand up her dress. The victim grabbed
the man by the collar and slammed him into a wall. She told him
that she was a Navy officer and an aviator, and she did not want him
to touch her. A few moments later the same man bit her on the right
side of her buttocks. The victim smashed her elbow into the man's
body; he fell to the ground, and crawled out the suite door into the
hallway. She described her assailant as having an accent that she
believed to be Australian. He was "around 6' , sort of dumpy, weigh-
ing between 175 and 200 pounds, with light brown hair."
Victim Number 6
Status/Service/Rank:
Civilian/Female
[ 1S2 ]
Victim/Assault Summaries
Date/Time of Incident: Thursday, September 5, 1991 —
Victim 6 is a 24-year-old civilian from the Las Vegas, Nevada, area,
who attended the Tailhook Association convention on Thursday,
September 5, 1991, with her spouse who is an Air Force captain.
According to the victim, she and her husband visited several hos-
pitality suites on the third floor of the Hilton. While standing in one
of the suites, an unknown male walked by her and grabbed her but-
tocks with one hand. She turned around and told the man not to
touch her again. She stated that the individual appeared to be "ex-
tremely intoxicated" and he continued to the bar to get a drink. The
same individual returned to her, walked by, and grabbed her again.
She told her husband what had occurred, and her husband told the
individual not to do it again.
At approximately 11:30 p.m., she and her husband walked down
the third-floor hallway to exit the area. The hallway was crowded
with intoxicated males who were grabbing and pinching women as
they walked down the hallway. She was grabbed on the buttocks with
"full hand grabs" three or four times and men intentionally tried to
rub up against her chest as she pushed through the crowded hallway.
She was unable to determine who grabbed her because "hands
would just come out from the sides and grab me."
Victim Number 7
Status/Service/Rank: Lieutenant (0-3)
9:00-11:30 p.m.
Place of Incident:
Unknown Hospitality Suite
Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
United States Navy/Female
Date/Time of Incident:
Thursday, September 5, 1991
10:30-1 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 7, 1991
7:30-9:30 p.m.
Place of Incident:
Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
[ 183 ]
Appendix V
Victim 7 is a 30-year-okl female United States Navy lieutenant. She
attended Tailbook "91 with two female friends, one civilian and one
Naval Reserve officer. This was the second convention she ^jfwfwf,
the first in 1990.
The victim told us that at Tailbook '90, she went down the hallway
and was grabbed. She believed that the 1 'brass** knew about the ha-
rassment and lewd behavior toward women in the hallway at Tail-
hook '90 and assumed they would address the behavior. Thus, she
did not report her assault nor anything she saw to any higher author-
ity.
According to the victim, while outside on the pool patio area at
approximately 10:30 to 11:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 5,
1991, several males placed squadron stickers on her buttocks. Also
on mat evening, two to three males touched and patted her on the
buttocks. Later, while in a suite, possibly die TOP GUN suite, she
attempted to enter the rest room. A male blocked the doorway and
would not let her enter. She told the male that her friend was in the
rest room, but he still would not let her in. When she Died to go
around him, he grabbed her shoulder with one hand to stop her. She
told the male to take his hands off her and pushed his hand away.
The male then grabbed her again, and she pushed him away from
her. The male called her a ''cunt/' whereupon she threw her drink
on him and ran out the door. The male began to follow, until she
stopped to talk to three older men. She told the male that the older
men were her protection, and he left her alone.
The victim told us that as a result of her being assaulted in the
hallway at Tailbook '90, she knew to avoid the hallway in 1991 and
was able for the most part to do so. The only exception was one
incident on Saturday, when she was escorted by three other naval
officers, one female and two males. According to the victim, while
walking down the main hallway of the third floor, she was grabbed
on the crotch by a male. She turned around, grabbed the male's arm.
and punched him with her free hand. The victim felt very capable of
dealing with the crowd because she had other '"guys" with her; she
indicated mat she is not the "type to let some guy get away with
pawing me if 1 can help it."
The victim explained that die gauntlet, as experienced and wit-
nessed by her, 4 was not a formal organized thing; it was a bunch of
drunken men in die hallway abusing women as they walked by.'*
The victim stated that the gauntlet started at the elevator bays and
continued along the hallway through room 360.
[ 184]
Victim/Assault Summaries
Victim Number 8
Status/Service/Rank:
Civilian/ Female
Date/Time of Incident:
Thursday, Friday, Saturday,
September 5-7, 1991
Place of Incident:
CNATRA Suite (Room 364),
Third Floor, Las Vegas Hilton
Victim 8 is a 24-year-old woman. At the time of Tailhook '91, she
had just graduated from bartenders' school and, on graduation, the
victim and a second female bartender were asked to serve drinks in
the CNATRA suite on a tips-only basis. They worked from 5:00
p.m. until 3:00 a.m. on each of the three nights.
According to the victim, on Thursday, while she served drinks in
the suite, males pinched and grabbed her on the buttocks. She told
them to stop and they would for a time. Later, they resumed pinching
and grabbing her. She stated that that happened five or six times
during the evening. Also, some males 4 'zapped" her on the buttocks
with various squadron emblems. She told them to stop, but they
continued to place the stickers on her throughout the evening.
On Friday she was grabbed and pinched on her buttocks and
breasts throughout the evening with more frequency than on Thurs-
day. The behavior in the suite was more "rowdy" than on the pre-
vious evening. She and her friend left the suite twice and they were
both grabbed and pinched walking down the hallway.
The victim stated that the behavior was the worst on Saturday.
She was constantly grabbed and pinched. The aviators would grab
her T-shirt, pull it open from the neck, and try to look down her shirt
to see her breasts. In addition, they would verbally abuse her by
saying things like "Are those your tits, are they real," "You got big
tits," and "I'd like to f— you."
The victim witnessed two males exposing themselves in the
CNATRA suite on Friday evening. She also saw a blond stripper in
the suite. After her performance, the stripper left the suite and re-
turned later, wrapped in a towel, crying and upset. The victim
thought the stripper had had sex with some of the males from the
suite.
I 185 I
Appendix F
The victim said she returned each night because she is a single
parent and needed the money.
Victim Number 9
Status/Ser vice/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Thursday, Friday, Saturday,
September 5-7, 1991
Place of Incident: CNATRA Suite (Room 364),
Third Floor, Las Vegas Hilton
Victim 9 is a 23-year-old woman. At the time of Tailhook '91, she
had just graduated from bartenders' school. The victim and a second
female bartender were hired to serve drinks in the CNATRA suite.
She worked from 5:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m. on each of the three
nights.
According to the victim, on Thursday while she served drinks in
the suite, males "zapped" her on her breasts and buttocks with var-
ious squadron emblems. She told them to stop but they continued to
place the stickers on her throughout the evening.
On Friday, she was grabbed and pinched on her buttocks and
breasts throughout the evening. The men were more vulgar and their
behavior was more aggressive than on the previous evening. The men
continually tried to "look down her shirt" and were lewd and abu-
sive in their comments. Remarks such as, "I want to get down your
pants," "Cute ass," "Nice tits," were directed at her throughout
the night.
The victim also witnessed two males exposing themselves in the
CNATRA suite. On Friday evening, the men in the suite told her to
look over at two men across the room who were ball walking. She
did not know what the term meant until she saw the men exposing
their testicles. The men in the suite acted as though it was extremely
funny. The victim stated that the behavior was the worst on Satur-
day, when most of the aviators were drunk. She noted that when
strippers entered the suite and performed, the men went "crazy."
After the show, the victim was pinched and grabbed all night long.
The more the victim would tell the men not to touch her, the worse
the grabbing got.
[ 186}
Victim/Assault Summaries
At one point, the victim was bitten on the buttocks while she was
serving drinks. A white male came up behind her and very forcefully
bit her buttocks. The bite was hard enough to cause a bruise. The
man who bit her was in the suite all three nights. The aviators who
saw the incident merely laughed about it. The victim also stated that
the hallway was extremely crowded and grew progressively worse
each night. She needed to go through the hallway to get to the ele-
vators on her way to dinner. She and several other women entered
the hallway and were pinched and grabbed. On subsequent trips to
dinner, she took a male bartender with her to help protect her from
the crowd.
Victim Number 10
Status/Service/Rank:
Date/Time of Incidents:
Place of Incidents:
Lieutenant Junior Grade (0-2)
United States Navy/Female
Friday and Saturday, September
1990
Saturday, September 7, 1991
Times Unknown
Guest Room and Hallway, Third
Floor, Las Vegas Hilton— 1990
VMFP-3 Administrative Suite,
Room 308, Las Vegas Hilton—
1991
Victim 10 is a 24-year-old female Navy lieutenant junior grade. She
attended Tailhooks '90 and '91.
On Saturday night during Tailhook '91, the victim went into the
* 'Rhino" administrative suite with a male Navy aviator acquaint-
ance. She saw a rhino mural with "a very large rhino penis on it—
they wanted women to come in there and please the rhino." The
aviator accompanying the victim pushed her head up toward the at-
tached dildo on the rhino mural, "close enough to it that they wanted
me to put this in my mouth." She believed that she would not be
allowed to leave the suite until she "pleased" the rhino. As the vic-
tim was shoved up to the rhino, she resisted, and a liquid substance
from the dildo was squirted on her face and clothing. She was finally
[ 187]
Appendix F
able to back away from the rhino when the attention in the suite
shifted from her to another female who willingly stepped up to the
rhino and "sucked the dildo." At that point the victim quickly exited
the "Rhino" suite.
This woman was the alleged victim of an attempted rape while at
Tailhook '90.
Victim Number 11
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Friday, September 6, 199 1 —
10:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: VMFP-3 Administrative Suite
Third Floor, Las Vegas Hilton
Victim 1 1 is an 1 8-year-old student at the UNLV. She attended Tail-
hook '91 with another female student.
According to the victim, she and four or five female friends from
UNLV went to the third floor of the Hilton Hotel to attend the party.
The hallway was crowded with men and "there was puke every-
where," so they decided to cut through one of the administrative
suites and go out to the pool patio. The victim and her friends en-
tered a suite single file with the victim at the end of the line. She was
holding her friend's hand so she would not be separated from the
group. There were between 10 and 20 men in the room. The victim
and her friends were the only females in the suite. Suddenly four
men "jerked me away" from her friends and circled her. They began
chanting and pushing her toward a painting of a rhinoceros with a
penis attached. The victim did not know why they were pushing her
toward the rhino, but she "knew it had something to do with that
[penis]." She struggled and screamed for her friends to help her.
One of her friends grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the suite.
The victim later met a Navy officer and told him what had happened
to her in the suite. The officer told the victim that the men in the
suite were Marines.
[ 188]
Victim/Assault Summaries
Victim Number 12
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Friday, September 6 or Saturday,
September 7, 1991 — Time
Unknown
Place of Incident: Patio Area, Third Floor, Las
Vegas Hilton
Victim 12 is a 21 -year-old female student at the UNLV. She attended
Tailhook '91 with six other UNLV students.
According to the victim, sometime during the evening, an uniden-
tified male came up behind her, bit her on the buttocks, and ran
away.
A second incident also occurred on the same evening that involved
another individual. She was asked by a male what she would do if
he grabbed her breasts. He then proceeded to grab her breasts. An-
other male in the vicinity then gave the victim a drink, which she
threw on the male who grabbed her.
Victim Number 13
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female/Tailhook
Association Employee
Date/Time of Incident: Friday, September 6, 1991 —
Evening, Time Unknown
Place of Incident: Pool Patio, Las Vegas Hilton
Victim 13, a 23-year-old San Diego resident, is employed by the
Tailhook Association.
According to the victim, on Friday evening, September 6, 1991,
she and her sister were standing on the third-floor pool patio of the
Hilton Hotel. They were in front of the MAWTS-1 administrative
suite, which was located in room 356. An unidentified male grabbed
her around the waist from behind, squatted down behind her and bit
her on the buttocks. The bite was not hard enough to hurt her or
[ r*9 I
Appendix F
break the skin, but she was shocked. She spun around and faced her
attacker, whom she described as an obviously intoxicated white
male, 190 pounds, 5 '10" tall with a "Marine" haircut.
As she turned around, the individual saw her Tailhook Associa-
tion name tag; he got down on his knees and exclaimed, ' Tm sorry.
I'm sorry, I didn't know who you were." She told him that he was
going to hurt someone or get in trouble, and he could be ejected
from the convention for such behavior. Several aviators standing in
the area asked her if she wanted them to do anything, and she replied
that she was "just going to let this one go."
Victim Number 14
Status/Service/Rank: Ensign (0-1)
United States Navy /Female
Date/Time of Incident: Friday, September 6, 1991 —
8:00-9:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 14 is a 22-year-old Navy ensign. She attended Tailhook '91
with a friend who is a male Navy officer.
According to the victim, she was walking in the crowded hallway
on the third floor with three male Navy officers when an unidentified
young male pinched her on the buttocks. She turned around and
pushed him up against the wall.
She felt that she resolved the situation and does not consider her-
self to be a victim of an assault, even though the pinch was noncon-
sensual.
Victim Number 15
(See page 246)
Victim Number 16
Status/Service/Rank:
Civilian/Female
[ 190 ]
Victim/Assault Summaries
Date/Time of Incident: Thursday or Friday, September 5
or 6, 1991-10:30-11:30 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 16 is a 20-year-old student at the UNLV She attended Tail-
hook '90 and '91 with a female friend from the UNLV.
According to the victim, Tailhook '91 "really got out of hand."
The hallway was full of crowds of drunken men. When she at-
tempted to walk through the crowd, she was grabbed on the buttocks.
The victim also saw a man with his testicles hanging outside his
pants. She tried to ignore the incident but was embarrassed. She was
not able to identify the men who grabbed her or the man who ex-
posed himself.
Victim Number 17
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Friday, September 6, 1991 — 9:00
p.m. to Saturday, September 7,
1991-1:00 a.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 17 is a 24-year-old Federal Government employee. She at-
tended Tailhook '91 with two female civilian friends.
According to the victim, she arrived on the third floor of the Hil-
ton Hotel and "tons of people" were in the hallway. She ventured
into one of the administrative suites and saw an unidentified man
exposing his penis/testicles. He said, "What do you think of this?"
She and her friends left the suite and walked out into the hallway. A
man picked up her friend and began twirling her around. (See Victim
44.) She yelled at him to put her friend down, which he eventually
did. No matter where she walked, men stood by doorways waiting
for women to pass by so they could grab them. The victim recalled
being grabbed several times but could not recognize any of the men
who grabbed her.
[ '9/ ]
Appendix F
Victim Number 18
Status/Service/Rank:
Lieutenant Junior Grade (0-2)
United States Navy/Female
Date/Time of Incident:
Friday, September 6, 1991 —
10:00 p.m.
Place of Incident:
Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 18 is a 26-year-old Navy lieutenant junior grade.
According to the victim, she and a male friend, who is a Navy
officer, were walking down the hallway of the third floor of the Hil-
ton Hotel when an unidentified man grabbed her on the buttocks.
She quickly turned around and gave the man an angry look. He
walked away. The victim did not tell her friend about the incident
because she was afraid he would retaliate, and she did not want him
to get into trouble. She told her friend she wanted to leave, and they
departed the third floor.
Victim Number 19
Status/Service/Rank: Lieutenant (0-3)
Date/Time of Incident: Friday, September 6, 1991—3:30
p.m.
Victim 19 is a 31 -year-old Navy Reserve lieutenant.
According to the victim, she went to the third floor of the Hilton
Hotel to locate a friend. She exited the main passenger elevator and
walked 20 or 30 feet down the hallway when two unidentified males
approached her. One of the men, who had a short "military cut"
hairstyle, pushed her up against the wall.
United States Navy Reserve/
Female
Place of Incident:
Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
[ 192 ]
Victim/Assault Summaries
Both men put their hands between her legs and grabbed her
crotch. They then fondled her breasts. She broke free of the men and
immediately left the third floor.
Victim Number 20
Status/Service/Rank: Lieutenant (0-3)
United States. Navy/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Friday, September 6, 1991 —
11:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 20 is a 25 -year-old Navy lieutenant.
According to the victim, she was walking down the hallway on
the third floor of the Hilton Hotel when she was slapped or brushed
on the buttocks. She turned around but no one was looking at her,
and she was unable to determine who may have touched her.
As she walked back down the hallway toward the main passenger
elevators, in the area of the HS-1 administrative suite in room 315,
she was grabbed on the buttocks. She turned and saw two men,
whom she believed to be Marines because of their short haircuts, in
the doorway of the suite. She said, 4 'You guys better watch what
you're doing." She then told them that she was a Navy lieutenant
and they had better be careful. The men did not believe her and
responded, "Yeah, right." She did not report the incident to anyone,
felt that she had taken care of the situation herself, and opined to us
that she did not feel she had been "assaulted."
Victim Number 21
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Friday, September 6, 1991 —
12:00 midnight
Place of Incident: "Rhino" Suite
[ 193 1
Appendix F
Victim 21 is a 23-year-old female who resides in California. She
attended Tailhook '91 with two female civilian friends. At the time
of Tailhook '91 , the victim had a cast on her leg and was on crutches,
as a result of an accident which occurred prior to the convention.
According to the victim, when she and one of her friends arrived
on the third-floor hallway of the Hilton, they saw a large group of
males toward the end of the hall and decided they did not want to go
any further into the hallway. They then entered the "Rhino" suite
and immediately saw the rhino mural. Suddenly a male grabbed one
of the victim's crutches and pulled her toward the mural. The victim
recalled that she looked specifically at the area of the dildo and no-
ticed that an unidentified male standing behind the mural had re-
moved the dildo and placed his penis in the hole where the dildo had
been. The male stood there exposing his penis to the victim and
others in the suite. At that point, the victim's friend pried the other
male's hands off the victim's crutch, and they (the victim and her
friend) immediately left the suite. The victim stated that she did not
get upset at the incident and did not feel that she was assaulted.
Victim Number 22
Status/Service/Rank Lieutenant Junior Grade (0-2)
United States Navy/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Friday, September 6, 1991 — 6:00
p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 22 is a 23-year-old lieutenant junior grade in the United
States Navy.
According to the victim, she and her boyfriend, a Navy lieutenant
junior grade, went to the third floor of the Hilton Hotel on Friday,
September 6, 1991 , at approximately 6:00 p.m. They exited the pas-
senger elevators and turned to walk up the hallway. A group of four
or five men were walking toward her and, as they passed by, one of
them reached out and grabbed her buttocks. She immediately turned
around and saw one of the men looking at her.
Neither she nor her boyfriend recognized any of the men, but she
[ 194 ]
Victim/Assault Summaries
described them as "definitely military" because of their short hair-
cuts.
Victim Number 23
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Friday, September 7, 1991 —
Time Unknown
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 23 is a 41 -year-old civilian who resides in Arizona. She at-
tended Tailhook '91 with a group of female civilian friends.
According to the victim, she and two female friends were walking
down the third-floor hallway of the Hilton Hotel when they were
suddenly "swarmed" by men. The victim was grabbed in the breasts
and crotch. She and her friends tried to continue down the hallway,
but they were thrown to the floor and grabbed repeatedly. The men
threw their drinks on the women while the victims screamed and
yelled at the men to stop. One of the victim's friends was crying,
and the victim told her not all of the men at the convention acted like
this and she should not allow this incident to ruin her entire weekend.
During Tailhook '91, the victim learned that the hallway was
called the gauntlet. She did not recognize any of the men who as-
saulted her, but she believed them to be lower-ranking young mili-
tary men.
Victim Number 24
Status/Service/Rank: First Lieutenant (0-2)
United States Air Force/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
12:30 a.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
[ 195]
Appendix F
Victim 24 is a 23 -year-old Air Force first lieutenant. She attended
Tailhook '91 with two male friends both of whom are military offi-
cers.
According to the victim, she arrived on the third floor at about
10:30 p.m. on Friday evening. On entering the hallway area, she
noted it was extremely crowded and that people were pouring out the
doorways of the administrative suites. Her initial impression was, "I
can't believe the Navy is paying for this." As she walked alone
through the hallway, men made suggestive comments and obstructed
her passage by standing in front of her. She again attempted to walk
through the hallway at 12:30 a.m., at which time she was grabbed
on the buttocks. Men cornered her and pressed close to her, inten-
tionally brushing their chests against her breasts. Leers and provoc-
ative comments were directed at her. The victim also noticed that as
other women walked through the hallway, they too were grabbed on
the buttocks by men in the crowd.
The victim told us that she did not file a complaint because of
repercussions she experienced in filing a previous complaint against
fellow Air Force officers.
Victim Number 25
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Friday or Saturday, September 6-
7, 1991-9:00 p.m. or 10:00
p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 25 is a 19-year-old student at the UNLV.
According to the victim, she went to the Tailhook Association
convention with two female friends on either Friday or Saturday eve-
ning and arrived on the third floor at approximately 9:00 or 10:00
p.m.
She became separated from her friends and began looking for
them in the administrative suites. As she left one of the suites to go
into the hallway, a man stopped her and said, "I don't think you
[ 196]
Victim/Assault Summaries
want to go through there." She did not think anything was wrong
except that there was a "tremendous crowd and lots of noise."
She entered the crowded hallway and felt numerous hands grab-
bing at her breasts, crotch, and buttocks. Men were making "sexual
comments" to her as they grabbed at her body. She swung out with
her arms and continued down the hallway. She tripped and fell down
on her hands, falling out of the crowd. She looked back at the hall-
way through which she had just come and saw men "lined up along-
side the walls." She was not able to identify anyone in the hallway.
Victim Number 26
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Friday or Saturday, September 6
or 7, 1991-10:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 26 is a 19-year-old student at the UNLV. She attended Tail-
hook '91 with several friends from the UNLV.
According to the victim, she walked through the third-floor hall-
way of the Hilton Hotel with two friends. The hallway was crowded
with men who appeared to be drunk. The victim believed the men to
be in the military because of their short haircuts. Her female friend
walked ahead of the victim and a male friend walked behind her.
Suddenly, men reached out, grabbing and groping the victim on the
breasts, buttocks, and crotch. She screamed and covered herself with
her arms. She could see that her female friend was also being as-
saulted. They finally got to the end of the crowd and left the hallway.
After the incident, the victim spent the rest of the evening on the
pool patio and avoided the third-floor hallway.
Victim Number 27
Status/Service/Rank:
Civilian/Female
[197]
Appendix F
DateATime of Incident:
Friday or Saturday, September 6
or 7, 1991 -10:00 p.m.
Place of Incident:
Unknown Suite(s), Third Floor,
Hilton Hotel
Victim 27 is a 19-year-old female student at the UNLV. She attended
Tailhook '91 with two girlfriends who are also students at the UNLV.
According to the victim, she and her friends went to the third floor
of the Hilton Hotel at 10:00 p.m. on either Friday or Saturday. The
victim went from suite to suite and stated that what she saw was
"hard to believe." In one suite, the victim saw a green statue with
an exposed "dildo" protruding from it that dispensed a margarita
drink. She observed a girl on her hands and knees drinking from it.
As the victim walked through the suite's doorway to get to the
pool patio area, two males on each side of the doorway reached out
and grabbed her breasts and buttocks. The victim could not identify
her assailants.
The victim and her friends also witnessed an instance of indecent
exposure in another suite. As they entered this suite, a male tapped
one of the victim's friends on the shoulder to get her attention. He
then exhibited his "private parts." The victim remembers that two
other males were laughing about it. The victim and her friends
quickly left the area.
Victim Number 28
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Friday or Saturday Evening.
Victim 28 is a 44-year-old spouse of a Navy officer and resides in
California.
According to the victim, she was on the third floor of the Hilton
Hotel on Friday and Saturday evening, when a military junior officer
''goosed" her on the buttocks. Another individual put his hand up
September 6 or 7, 1991 — Time
Unknown
Place of Incident:
Unknown
[ 198]
Victim/Assault Summaries
her long dress to her knees. She told her husband about the incidents
and they both laughed about it. She advised us that she did not con-
sider herself a victim of assault.
Victim Number 29
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Friday and Saturday, September
6-7, 1991-11:30 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 29 is a 29-year-old woman who resides in Arizona.
According to the victim, on Friday night she was in the hallway
when a man put his hands inside her top and grabbed her breasts.
She chased him as he ran and was able to catch him because he fell.
While he was on the ground, the victim proceeded to hit him. There
were other persons present who saw the incident and laughed.
On Saturday she visited several suites on the third floor. At 1 1 :00
p.m., she came out of a suite into the hallway and noticed about 15
military men standing on each side of the hall making various noises.
She was with several friends and they all joined hands in an attempt
to get to the elevators. The victim said that she and her friends were
grabbed on the breasts and buttocks. She stated there were hands
everywhere and the men looked like they were "in heat." She and
her friends were shaken up by the incident and left the hotel.
Victim Number 30
Status/Service/Rank: Lieutenant Commander (0-4),
United States Navy, Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
6:30 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
[ 199 ]
Appendix F
Victim 30 is a 36-year-old female United States Navy lieutenant
commander. She has attended Tailhook Association conventions in
1987, 1989, 1990, and 1991.
According to the victim, on Saturday, September 7, 1991 , at 6:30
p.m., she entered the third-floor hallway of the Las Vegas Hilton
Hotel by way of the main passenger elevators. When she reached the
area of the hallway between rooms 303 and 306, she felt someone
reach around and through her right arm from behind and fondle her
right breast. She immediately turned around and observed a group
of five men with their backs to her. She believed one of those men
committed the assault, but she did not confront them, and she con-
tinued to walk through the hallway.
During one previous Tailhook convention, she was grabbed in the
crotch by an unknown male while she walked through the third-floor
hallway. She immediately confronted the individual responsible,
grabbed the man by his genitals, and asked, "How do you like it?"
The man was quite surprised by her reaction and did not respond.
She left the area feeling that she had dealt with the situation.
Victim Number 31
Status/Service/Rank: Spouse of Naval Reserve Officer
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1 991 —
10:30 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 3 1 , a 48-year-old spouse of a Navy Reserve officer, attended
the Tailhook Association convention in 1991 with her daughter, son-
in-law, who is a naval officer, and two female civilian friends. She
had attended Tailhook conventions in 1986 and 1990 with her hus-
band. He did not attend the Tailhook convention in 1991.
According to the victim, on Saturday evening, September 7,
1991, she, her friends, her daughter, and son-in-law left the
"Rhino" suite (room 308) to go to the VR-57 suite (room 357). The
hallway was packed with men lining both sides of the hallway. They
proceeded to walk down the hallway with her son-in-law leading
them single file. As she walked through the hallway, she was
[ 200 ]
Victim/Assault Summaries
pinched several times. She turned around to find her friend, and her
friend said, "Let's get out of here." She and her friend quickly
exited through a nearby suite and out onto the pool patio where they
met with the rest of their party.
Even though she was pinched, she was not fearful that anything
would happen to her because she has "been associated with the Navy
and pilots most of my life." However, she was concerned for her
friend, who is 60 years old and probably does not know how a group
of aviators having fun might behave.
Victim Number 32
(See page 245)
Victim Number 33
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday , September 7 , 1991 —
After 10:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 33, a 23-year-old woman from California, attended the Tail-
hook Association Symposium in 1991 with several friends who were
female active-duty naval officers. This was the first Tailhook conven-
tion she attended.
According to the victim, on Saturday evening, September 7,
1992, after 8:00 p.m., she entered the third-floor hallway to look for
her friends. She asked a male, whom she did not know, to escort her
through the hallway because she had heard rumors that at past Tail-
hook conventions men grabbed and pawed women as they walked
through the third-floor hallway, and she did not want to be grabbed.
She was unable to identify the man, but stated that she nicknamed
him "Smiley," and he was a Navy pilot.
After entering the hallway with Smiley, she was almost instantly
caught up in a "rush" of people. As she walked through the hallway,
a "wall of people" closed in behind her, and she was catapulted
forward. She was grabbed and pawed by numerous hands. She be-
[201 ]
Appendix F
lieved she was being grabbed at random and that men who walked
through the hallway were also being grabbed.
She was pushed through the hallway so quickly she did not have
time to see who was assaulting her. She was unable to identify her
assailants or anyone else in the hallway.
Victim Number 34
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Sunday, September 8, 1991 —
2:00 a.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 34, a 20-year-old woman from Nevada, attended the Tailhook
Association convention in 1991 with a female civilian friend.
According to the victim, she, her friend, and two male Navy lieu-
tenants went to the third floor of the Hilton Hotel at approximately
2:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 8, 1991.
As they exited the passenger elevators and began to walk down
the hallway, an unidentified male reached out and grabbed her but-
tocks. She quickly whirled around and one of the male lieutenants
she was with pushed the individual and said, "You're an embarrass-
ment to the Navy." She did not know the individual who grabbed
her.
A Navy lieutenant who witnessed the incident stated that as he
and the victim exited the elevators on the third floor of the Hilton on
Sunday morning, September 8, 1991, and began to walk up the hall-
way, he observed an unknown male grab the victim on the buttocks.
He physically pushed the man away and made "some type of re-
mark" to him.
Victim Number 35
(See page 246)
[ 202 ]
Victim/Assault Summaries
Victim Number 36
Status/Service/Rank: Lieutenant (0-3)
United States Navy/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
After 9:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 36 is a 29-year-old Navy lieutenant.
According to the victim, she was on the third floor of the Hilton
Hotel on Saturday, September 7, 1991, when she was "involved in
a gauntlet incident. ' ' She was walking through the crowded hallway
with a male Navy lieutenant, and "had no idea that this was a gaunt-
let." Suddenly, hands began grabbing at her. She crossed her arms
over her breasts and ran through the closest administrative- suite door
to escape from the gauntlet. She heard the man she was with yell at
her attackers, but does not recall what he said. She was not able to
identify any of the men in the gauntlet.
Victim Number 37
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991
Evening— Time Unknown
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 37 is a 31 -year-old civilian woman who resides in California.
She attended Tailhook '91 with two female civilian friends.
According to the victim, prior to attending Tailhook '91, she was
warned by another female friend that it was not a good idea to go on
the third floor after 1 1:00 p.m. On Saturday evening, the victim did
go into the third-floor hallway to look for her friends. The hallway
was crowded and as she proceeded through the hallway men began
[ 203 ]
Appendix F
to grab at her. They grabbed her shirt and ripped her brassiere. She
ran through the hallway to a less crowded area.
The victim stated that since she had been warned about the third
floor and she went anyway, she should not be labeled a victim even
though she was subjected to indecent assault.
Victim Number 38
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
7:30 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 38 is a 36-year-old Federal Government employee.
According to the victim, she and a female friend were walking
down the third-floor hallway of the Hilton on Saturday evening at
approximately 7:30 p.m. She knew from attending previous Tailhook
Association conventions that the hallway could get ''crazy," but at
the time, the hallway did not appear "packed with people," and she
felt that everything was "calm."
As she walked down the hallway, she was "suddenly surrounded
by men." They started grabbing her on the buttocks and "every-
where else." She started pushing to get to an exit, screaming,
"Leave me alone."
She noted that she "knew the hallway was trouble," and she
"should have known better. ' '
Victim Number 39
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
11:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
[ 204 ]
Victim/Assault Summaries
Victim 39 is a 35-year-old woman who resides in California. She is
the ex-spouse of an enlisted Marine and attended previous Tailhook
Association conventions with her spouse. She attended the conven-
tion in 1991 with her sister.
According to the victim, she and her sister went to the third floor
of the Hilton at approximately 11:00 p.m. on Saturday evening.
They went into several administrative suites and walked down the
hallway. She was "grabbed on the buttocks two or three times while
walking through the gauntlet." As she felt hands grabbing her but-
tocks, she turned to see who had done it but was unable to determine
who had touched her.
The individuals standing in the area all had "short, military-style
haircuts." She could not identify anyone standing in the hallway.
Victim Number 40
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
11:30 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 40 is a 38-year-old civilian from Massachusetts.
According to the victim, she traveled to the Tailhook Association
convention in 1991 by herself.
She went to the third floor of the Hilton Hotel on Saturday eve-
ning, and at approximately 1 1:30 p.m. , she and an unidentified male
naval officer from the VF-1 squadron walked out into the hallway.
There were "males lining both sides of the hallway." As they ap-
proached the vicinity of room 312, two males, one on each side of
the hall, grabbed her on the breasts and buttocks simultaneously. She
turned around in shock, but the hall was so crowded she could not
determine who grabbed her. The man she was with did not observe
her assault.
Victim Number 41
Status/Service/Rank:
Civilian/Female
[ 205 ]
Appendix F
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
10:30 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 41, a 29-yeas-old Las Vegas resident, attended the Tailhook
Association conventions in 1990 and 1991. On Saturday, September
7, 1991, she and two friends arrived on the third floor of the Hilton
at approximately 10:30p.m.
According to the victim, the hallway was extremely crowded as
they walked through to go to the pool patio exit. As she walked
through the crowd, several men attempted to place unit stickers on
her breasts and buttocks. Two men slapped her on the buttocks, af-
fixing unit stickers. When she objected, the men began to throw the
stickers at her.
She then retreated into one of the hospitality suites to use the
bathroom. She discovered the bathroom door in that suite was
locked, so she went back out into the hallway to look for another
bathroom. As she stepped back out into the hallway, someone re-
moved the baseball cap she was wearing and threw it down the hall-
way into the crowd. She began to walk down the hallway to retrieve
her hat.
As she walked into the crowd, men began hooting and hollering
at her. A group of men surrounded her and began "groping" her
body. Several men ran their hands down her top and grabbed her
breasts inside her bra. Several other men ran their hands up her legs
inside her loose-fitting shorts and grabbed and fondled her buttocks.
She attempted to defend herself by striking out at the men, but as
she twisted and turned, another group of men fondled her breasts
and buttocks from behind.
She was finally ejected from the crowd with such force that she
was thrown against a man standing in the doorway of one of the
administrative suites, and she fell down on top of him. Someone
picked her up, stood her against the wall, and told her not to go back
down the hallway. She was extremely frightened and crying. She
told the man who picked her up that she was just trying to get her
hat. She saw someone in the crowd wearing her hat, and the man
who picked her up retrieved the hat for her and, at her request, es-
corted her back to her friends.
After finding her friends, she was approached by several men who
[ 206 ]
Victim/Assault Summaries
apologized for what had occurred, one of them stating, "One person
can't control this crowd." She subsequently walked out on the pool
patio where she saw a line of six men walking around the pool deck
completely naked.
Victim Number 42
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
11:00 p.m.-12:00 midnight
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 42 is a 40-year-old victim who resides in Florida. She at-
tended the Tailhook Association convention with two female friends.
According to the victim, she entered the hallway on the third floor
of the Hilton Hotel at approximately 11:00 or 12:00 midnight on
Saturday evening. The hallway was "body to body," and men in the
hallway were standing there "like they were waiting and wanting
people to walk by." She heard men saying things like "Oh, baby,
baby," and "Look at the tits on that." She was pinched on the
buttocks about six times.
She did not like being pinched on the buttocks by strangers even
though there was a "party atmosphere" on the third floor. She felt
that, when she was walking through the hallway, "the guys had a
definite plan in mind, they were all in on it, and it was not a random
activity. They were planning to pinch and touch women walking
through the hall."
Victim Number 43
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
9:30 p.m.
[ 207 1
Appendix F
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 43 is a 19-year-old student and resides in Las Vegas. She
attended Tailhook '91 with two female civilian friends.
According to the victim, she and her friends arrived on the third
floor of the Hilton Hotel at approximately 9:30 p.m. and exited the
passenger elevators. As they walked down the hallway to the admin-
istrative suite located in room 315, she found she had to push her
way through the crowd that lined both sides of the hallway. She was
pinched on her buttocks while she walked through the hallway. She
could not identify anyone who was in the hallway at that time.
VlCTI M N UMBER 44
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7. 1 99 1 —
9:30 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 44 is a 24-year-old student at the UNLV She attended Tail-
hook '91 with two female friends who were also students at the
UNLV.
According to the victim, she attended the party on the third floor
of the Hilton Hotel from approximately 9:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
on Saturday, September, 7, 1991. At some time during the evening,
she and her friends walked down the hallway on the third floor. As
they pushed through the crowd, a tall blond male, approximately
6'2" in height, picked her up and began to spin her around in circles.
She became very dizzy and screamed for him to put her down. Her
friends were also screaming at him. He ignored their screams until
another unidentified man stopped the individual from spinning.
One of the victim's friends witnessed the incident. The witness
stated that while walking down the hallway, a tall man picked the
victim up in the air and twirled her around and around. They both
screamed at the man to put her down, which he finally did.
The victim related another incident that shocked and upset her.
[208]
Victim/Assault Summaries
Shortly after she arrived at the party, she and her friends walked into
one of the administrative suites located in room 302, 303, 304, or
305 of the Hilton Hotel. While in the suite, a dark-complexioned
male exposed his penis/testicles to her. He appeared to be of His-
panic or Italian ethnic background, 5 '6" to 5 '8" in height, with short
black hair. He was standing next to two other males. One of the other
males reached down, grabbed the man's exposed penis/testicles, and
shook them at her and her friends, saying, "Hey ladies, have you
ever seen anything like this before?" She was shocked and could not
believe what she had just seen. She and her friends quickly exited
the suite. (See Victim 17.)
Victim Number 45
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
9:30-1 1:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 45 is a 34-year-old civilian who resides in Nevada. She
attended Tailhook '91 with a female civilian friend.
According to the victim, she and her friend went up to the third
floor of the Hilton Hotel via the guest elevator near room 364. She
began walking down the hallway, which she described as filled with
drunken, rowdy men. As she proceeded, she was pushed and shoved
as men grabbed at her breasts and buttocks. When she got to the area
of the hallway between rooms 304 and 305, she realized that she had
lost the pager she wore at her waist. One of the men in the crowd
immediately yelled out to the other men in the hallway that she had
lost her beeper. The victim stated, "The whole crowd stopped and
looked for the pager." The victim saw other women in the hallway
who were also being grabbed on the breasts and buttocks.
The victim's friend was a witness to the incident. According to
the witness, she and the victim began to walk down the third-floor
hallway and were "touched all over the place." The victim was
wearing a dress and the witness saw men reach up her dress and grab
[ 209 1
Appendix F
at her. The witness also eorroborated the victim's statement relative
to her lost pager, noting that the pager and other personal articles
were found and returned to the victim without further incident.
Victim Number 46
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday. September 7. 1991 —
10:30 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway. Third Floor. Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 46 is a 31-year-old civilian from California.
According to the victim, she and a female friend went to Las
Vegas on vacation. Her friend's cousin, a male Navy lieutenant jun-
ior grade, invited them to attend Tailhook '91.
She. her friend, her friend's cousin, and two other male Navy
officers arrived on the third floor of the Hilton Hotel at approxi-
mately 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. They exited the passenger elevators
and started walking up the long hallway that had "guys standing on
both sides, like a gauntlet at a high school football game." She
walked closely behind her friend's cousin and felt men from both
sides of the hallway intentionally grab her buttocks and attempt to
grab her breasts. She pressed her front to the back of her friend's
cousin to protect her breasts. She was firmly grabbed on the buttocks
b\ at least six different men. One man grabbed her T-shirt and would
not let go. That frightened her. as she did not know what he was
going to do next, but he finally released his grip.
As she was walking through the hallway, she thought. "Why did
I do this?91 A part of her felt guilty for even being there. She did not
report the incident or tell anyone about it because she did not want
anyone to know she had gone to the Tailhook party.
Victim Number 47
Status'Service/Rank:
Civilian Female
[2/0]
Victim/Assault Summaries
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
7:00-8:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 47 is a 34-year-old Federal Government employee who is
married to a Navy officer. She attended the Tailhook Association
convention with her husband and has attended three or four conven-
tions in the past.
According to the victim, she, her husband, and several friends
were visiting one of the administrative suites on the third floor of the
Hilton Hotel on Saturday evening. She and one of the other females
decided to leave the suite to look for a friend. She was aware, from
attending previous Tailhook conventions, that the third-floor hallway
could be dangerous, but she thought that it was early in the evening,
and people were moving freely through the crowded hallway. As she
and her friend entered the crowd, men began to encircle them. She
felt hands grabbing at her breasts, genitalia, and buttocks. The attack
was so forceful that she was surprised she was not bruised. She
pushed herself up against her friend, who was also being attacked.
They were finally able to extract themselves from the crowd. The
attack took place between rooms 302 and 308. She did not recognize
any of the men in the hallway at the time of the assault.
The victim stated she felt humiliated and was upset with herself
for not recognizing a known problem and avoiding the hallway. She
was aware that there was gauntlet-type activity at previous Tailhook
conventions. In the past, she had seen women emerge from the
crowded hallway who were upset and had articles of clothing re-
moved. The activity always seemed to take place between rooms 302
and 308. She had not been able to recognize anyone in the hallway
at that time, except that some of the men participating in the gauntlet
during the 1988 and 1989 Tailhook conventions wore "elephant
hats."*
♦Investigation disclosed that a Prowler squadron (VA-128) wore hats decorated
with a mock fuel probe. The probe was described by at least one witness as
resembling an elephant's trunk. Similarly, some VMFP-3 "Rhino" squadron
members wore rhinoceros-horn headpieces that could also appear to be an ele-
phant's trunk.
[211]
Appendix F
Victim Number 48
Status/Service/Rank :
Lieutenant (0-3)
United States Navy/Female
Date/Time of Incident:
Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
Evening, Time Unknown
Place of Incident:
Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 48 is a 30-year-old Navy lieutenant.
According to the victim, she was walking alone down the hallway
on the third floor of the Hilton Hotel on Saturday evening when she
suddenly felt men intentionally touching her body. She described the
touching as a * 'group grope" with hands everywhere. She was
touched and grabbed on her buttocks, breasts, and crotch. As she
continued down the hall, the men began chanting and whistling at
her. She was wearing a strapless evening dress, and someone
grabbed the top of her dress under her arm. She brought her arm
down with enough force to dislodge the hand from her dress. She
then screamed out, 4 'OK, guys, that's enough," after which the men
stopped their grabbing and she was able to exit the hallway.
Victim Number 49
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
DateATime of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
Victim 49 is a 42-year-old civilian from Las Vegas, Nevada. She
attended Tailhook '91 with a female civilian friend.
According to the victim, she and her friend arrived on the third
floor of the Hilton Hotel on Saturday evening. As they started to
walk down the hallway, she was "touched all over the place" by the
men in the hallway. She was in a state of shock and embarrassed that
Evening, Time Unknown
Place of Incident:
Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
[2/2 ]
Victim/Assault Summaries
she had been grabbed all over her body. She pushed through the
hallway and at the end of the crowd, a man who said he was a Navy
lieutenant advised her to hold his hand and nothing else would hap-
pen to her. She took his hand and was escorted from the hallway
without further incident. She and her friend then noticed that several
items had fallen from their handbags when they were in the hallway.
She told the officer who had offered his help about the missing
items, and he immediately turned to the crowd and yelled for the
men to look for the items. The men in the hallway searched for the
items, found them, and returned them to the victim and her friend.
Victim Number 50
Status/Service/Rank: Lieutenant (0-3)
United States Navy/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
11:30 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 50 is LT Paula Coughlin. At the time of Tailhook '91, she
was aide to RADM John W. Snyder, United States Navy, Com-
mander, Naval Air Test Center.
According to LT Coughlin, she arrived at the third-floor hallway
of the Hilton Hotel alone at approximately 1 1:30 p.m. Saturday eve-
ning. She entered the hotel from the pool patio through the doors at
the main passenger elevators, turned right and proceeded up the hall-
way.
As she approached the hallway, she found it to be loud and
rowdy. Both sides of the hallway were lined with men leaning on the
walls. As she began to walk up the hallway, there were approxi-
mately six to eight of the young men on each side of the hallway and
two in the center of the hallway. Each had their backs to her at the
head of the group. As she attempted to pass the man on the right
side, the man intentionally bumped into her with his right hip. LT
Coughlin excused herself, and one of the men lining the hallway
yelled loudly, "Admiral's aide!"
LT Coughlin turned to look at the man who yelled. She described
[ 213 1
Appendix F
the man who had first bumped into her as having dark skin with short
dark hair, perhaps Hispanic or a light-skinned black. She was
grabbed by the buttocks with such force that it lifted her off the
ground arid ahead a step. LT Coughlin turned around and yelled at
the man, "What the f— do you think you are doing?" As she said
that, she was grabbed on the buttocks by someone from behind. She
turned and asked that individual the same question. The men in the
group began grabbing her breasts as well as her buttocks. LT Cough-
lin described the assault as follows:
"The man with the dark complexion moved in immediately be-
hind me with his body pressed against mine. He was bumping me,
pushing me forward down the passageway where the group on either
side was pinching and then pulling at my clothing. The man then put
both his hands down the front of my tanktop and inside my bra where
he grabbed my breasts. I dropped to a forward crouch position and
placed my hands on the wrists of my attacker in an attempt to remove
his hands ... I sank my teeth into the fleshy part of die man's left
forearm, biting hard. I thought I drew blood ... I then turned and
bit the man on the right hand at the area between the base of the
thumb and base of the index finger." The man removed his hands,
and another individual "reached up under my skirt and grabbed the
crotch of my panties. I kicked one of my attackers ... I felt as
though the group was trying to rape me. I was terrified and had no
idea what was going to happen next."
LT Coughlin attempted to escape into one of the administrative
suites, but her route was blocked by men who stood in the doorway
and would not allow her through. The men in the crowd continued
to grab at her buttocks and breasts, and she noticed that one of the
men in the crowd turned and began to walk away. "I reached out
and tapped him on the right hip, pleading with the man to just let me
get in front of him. The man stopped, turned . . . and pivoted to a
position directly in front of me. With this action, the man raised both
his hands and put one on each of my breasts.*'
LT Coughlin broke free and ran past him into an open door that
led to one of the administrative suites. She sat h> the room in the
dark, "attempting to understand what had happened to me ... I was
appalled not only by the brutality of the incident, but the fact that
the group did that to me knowing I was both a fellow officer and an
admiral's aide."
According to one witness, a male Federal Government civilian
employee, "I remember Coughlin entered the hallway. Coughlin
[214 ]
Victim/Assault Summaries
stood in the hallway for a couple of minutes and then proceeded
down the hall. As she advanced through the area, the gauntlet col-
lapsed around her blocking her from my view. I recall Coughlin
wrenching around as she disappeared from sight. I never saw her exit
the gauntlet." There were approximately 100 men in the hallway at
the time, none of whom the witness recognized.
A male Navy lieutenant stated that he saw a woman walk into the
crowded hallway. He saw her get pinched on the buttocks by an
unknown male. As the woman turned to confront the man, another
male from the other side of the hallway pinched her on the buttocks.
During the confrontation, he heard someone yell, " Admiral's aide!"
Later, when the witness saw LT Coughlin on television, he realized
that she was probably the woman he witnessed being assaulted in the
hallway.
Another male Federal Government employee witnessed part of the
assault on LT Coughlin. The witness saw a man standing in the hall-
way whom he described as the "master of ceremonies." The man
appeared to be moving about in an animated fashion, trying to get
women to walk through the gauntlet where the men in the hallway
would then surround them. If a woman did not want to walk down
the hallway, the man would physically pick her up and carry her
down the hallway. The witness saw LT Coughlin conversing with the
"master of ceremonies," and it appeared that she was telling him
she was a lieutenant and an admiral's aide. The witness saw a man
come up behind LT Coughlin and grab her from behind, wrapping
his arms all the way around her. LT Coughlin started to struggle,
bending over forward. At the same time LT Coughlin was being as-
saulted, another woman standing behind the witness was being
grabbed by men in the hallway. The witness left the area before LT
Coughlin emerged from the hallway.
During the course of our investigation, we received several alle-
gations indicating that LT Coughlin engaged in improper activity
while at Tailhook '91 . We investigated all such allegations but found
that the allegations were based on hearsay testimony or were other-
wise without merit. None of the people who told us about the alleged
incidents or improper conduct involving LT Coughlin actually wit-
nessed the incidents themselves, nor could they provide the identity
of any eyewitnesses.
When interviewed, LT Coughlin denied all allegations of impro-
priety. No credible information was found to support the allegations
of misconduct on the part of LT Coughlin. As noted by one male
[2/5]
Appendix F
officer, it appeared the allegations were fabricated to discredit LT
Coughlin for her public disclosure of facts concerning assaults at
Tailhook '91.
Victim Number 51
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 199 1 —
1 1:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 51 is a female from California.
According to the victim, she was exiting the hallway of the third
floor when she was grabbed on the buttocks by an unidentified white
male. She turned and asked, "What the hell are you doing?" The
man then apologized to the victim. Even though she was a victim of
an assault, she did not want to be "listed" as a victim and requested
confidentiality.
Victim Number 52
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
10:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 52 is a 23-year-old Federal Government employee. She at-
tended Tailhook '91 with two female civilian friends.
According to the victim, she and her friends exited the main pas-
senger elevators on the third floor of the Hilton Hotel at approxi-
mately 10:00 p.m. on Saturday evening. As they began to walk up
the hallway, an unidentified male grabbed the victim and pushed her
toward the crowd. She recalled men yelling "Women" or "Girls"
[2/6]
Victim/Assault Summaries
and yelling something like "Woo woo." As she was pushed through
the crowd, men grabbed her on the arms, legs, and buttocks. She
exited the crowd and did not return to the hallway.
Victim Number 53
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
10:30 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 53 is a 28-year-old civilian who resides in Las Vegas, Ne-
vada. She attended Tailhook '91 with a female civilian friend.
According to the victim, she and her friend took the stairs to the
third floor of the Hilton Hotel. They stepped out of the stairwell into
the hallway that was crowded with people, mostly men. A man asked
the victim if she ever "gone through the line before." She did not
know what he was talking about and told him she had not. He replied
"Be careful." Suddenly a man came up behind her, put his head
between her legs, and lifted her up on his shoulders. The man started
walking her through the crowd in the hallway. Men reached out and
grabbed her on the breasts, buttocks, and crotch, and she was hit in
the mouth. They put their hands up under her shirt to grab at her,
while she feverishly attempted to protect herself with her arms. She
described the crowd in the hallway as a "riot" and she was ex-
tremely frightened. As she was being carried down the hallway, she
squeezed her eyes shut and was "totally in shock." At the end of
the crowd, the man "dumped" her off his shoulders onto the floor
and asked if she was all right. He then disappeared into the crowd.
She could not identify any of her assailants because the military men
all looked alike to her with their short haircuts.
Victim Number 54
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
[2/7]
Appendix F
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
9:00-10:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Boor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 54 is a 23-year-old civilian who resides in Las Vegas, Ne-
vada. She attended Tailhook '91 with six friends: four female civil-
ians, one male Navy officer, and one male Marine officer.
According to the victim, she entered the hallway through the door
of one of the administrative suites on the third floor of the Hilton
Hotel. As she entered the hallway, "there was no turning back.
There were millions of guys and they had total control." She was
pushed along the hallway, and men reached up under her skirt to
grab at her buttocks. She twisted and swung out at them, but as she
turned, more hands would grab her from behind. She heard cheering
and chanting as she was propelled down the hallway. Men were
blocking the doorways to the suites so she could not escape. She
finally made her way into one of the suites and went through to the
pool patio to find her friends. She could not recognize anyone in the
hallway, because there were so many who looked alike with short
haircuts.
Victim Number 55
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
9:30 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 55 is a 25-year-old civilian from Las Vegas, Nevada. She
attended Tailhook '91 with three civilian female friends and then-
dates who were male Navy or Marine officers.
According to the victim, she and her friends arrived on the third
floor of the Hilton Hotel at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Saturday.
As they began to walk down the crowded hallway, she heard some-
one yell, "Deck clear." As she walked through the crowd, men
[218]
Victim/Assault Summaries
began grabbing her breasts and buttocks and attempted to get then-
hands inside her shorts. She saw one of her friends get picked up by
one man and carried screaming down the hallway. The victim tried
to go to her friend's aid, but men blocked her way, still grabbing at
her breasts and crotch. She knocked one man's hands away and told
him she would hit him if he touched her again. He laughed at her.
After the incident in the hallway, the victim and her friends vis-
ited three of the administrative suites to get drinks. In all three suites,
she was confronted by men who grabbed at her breasts or crotch.
She was asked several times by men in the suites if she wanted to
"f— ." She was unable to identify any of the men who assaulted
her.
Victim Number 56
Status/Service/Rank: Lieutenant (0-3)
United States Navy/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
10:00-11:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 56 is a 29-year-old Navy lieutenant who resides in Virginia.
She attended Tailhook '91 with a female friend who is a Navy officer
and two civilian female friends.
According to the victim, she entered the third-floor hallway, walk-
ing behind three male Navy friends. She described the assault as
follows:
"I was immediately pounced on. I had several hands on every
part of my body, my breasts, my buttocks, and my crotch. There
were approximately 30 guys in the hallway. I wasn't punching, but I
was throwing my arms to move through the crowd." The victim
considered striking one man who had grasped her breast, but instead
she stared at him and he released her. The victim provided a descrip-
tion of the man to the San Diego Police Department, and a composite
drawing was prepared. She lost sight of her companions in the
crowd, but thought one of them may have witnessed her emergence
[ 2 /9 ]
Appendix F
from the crowd. The victim later viewed photographs of possible
suspects, but was unable to make a positive identification.
A Navy officer who accompanied the victim through the hallway-
told us that he did, in fact, witness her exit the crowd. She passed
by a group of five men, and one of them reached out and grabbed
her. A second man pushed the victim, and she punched one of the
men. The witness walked up to the victim and offered her some
assistance. He then 'escorted her from the area. The witness could
not identify any of the men in the hallway at the time and could only
describe them as having a general military appearance.
Victim Number 57
Status/Service Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday. September 7, 199 1 —
9:00-10:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 57 is a 30-year-old civilian who resides in California. She
attended Tailhooks '85, '87, '89, '90, and '91.
According to the victim, she was walking down the hallway when
an unidentified male placed his hand on her buttocks. She removed
his hand and told him to stop touching her. She recalled that at Tail-
hook '85, she was walking down the hallway when several aviators
tried to grab her breasts and buttocks. She covered herself with her
arms and ran from the hallway.
Victim Number 58
Status/Service/Rank: Lieutenant (0-3)
DateATime of Incident: Saturday Night, September 7,
1991— Time Unknown
Place of Incident: Hallway, Outside VF-124 Suite,
Third Floor, Las Vegas Hilton
[ 220 ]
Victim/Assault Summaries
Victim 58 is a 31-year-old Navy lieutenant. She went to Tailhook '91
accompanied by her husband who is also a lieutenant in the Navy.
She has not attended any other Tailhook conventions.
As the victim and her husband were leaving the VF-124 suite, a
male naval officer sitting on the floor just outside the suite reached
up her shorts and tried to grab her. The victim slapped the man and
continued down the hall. The victim stated that the man looked sur-
prised. She described the attitude as, 4 'It was OK to cop a free feel."
The male appeared to be very drunk.
The victim stated that, prior to going to the convention, she was
warned not to go on the third floor after 11:00 p.m. because of the
gauntlet. She stated that, in a matter of 30 minutes, the hallway
underwent a major transformation. At 10:00 p.m., it was a quiet
place with perhaps 20 people in the hallway. By 10:30 p.m., how-
ever, it was apparent to the victim that the gauntlet was starting.
People were coming out of the suites into the hallway as though
prearranged. The victim stated that the gauntlet started at the VS-41
suite (room 304) and continued to the VMFP-3 suite (room 308).
The victim and her husband left the third-floor area because they
did not want to be in the area when things got out of control.
Victim Number 59
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
9:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 59 is a 27-year-old woman who resides in the Las Vegas,
Nevada, area. This was the first Tailhook that the victim attended.
According to the victim, as she was wandering down the hall, a
white male picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. He then
ran the length of the hallway with her. As she was yelling for help,
she remembered hearing other men in the hallway cheering and
laughing. At the end of the hallway, as the man let her down, he
spilled a drink on her. The victim although angry, did not show it
[ 22 / ]
Appendix F
because she was afraid of what he might do. The victim was not
surprised to learn that other women were also assaulted.
During the hour and a half the victim was at Tailhook, she also
saw a man mooning as she turned the corner to go into a suite.
Victim Number 60
Status/Service/Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade (0-2)
United States Navy/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday , September 7 , 1991 —
10:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 60 is a 24-year-old Navy lieutenant junior grade who resides
in California.
According to the victim, she arrived on the third floor on Saturday
evening to look for a friend to go out to dinner. She started to walk
down the hallway when it occurred to her that there were 4 'lots of
men lined up along the sides of the hallway, leaving a cleared path
down the middle." She estimated there were 200 or 300 men lining
the hallway at that time, which looked "very strange" to her. She
looked around at the men in the hallway, but did not see anyone she
knew other than one Navy lieutenant who was "just standing
around," but "close enough to the gauntlet that he would have to
have seen what happened to me." She also saw two hotel security
guards in the area. She stood at the beginning of the hallway for
about five minutes looking around for someone she might know.
While she stood there, several men walked through the clear passage
in the hallway and "nothing happened to them, so I figured it was
OK and went too."
The victim stated that as she entered the hallway, she was imme-
diately converged on by five or six men. She describes her attack as
follows:
"My arms were either held down at my sides or behind my back.
I remember one guy was behind me and had both his hands grabbing
my breasts. I think maybe they were trying to pick me up off the
[222]
Victim/Assault Summaries
ground so I was struggling downwards. I don't recall specifically
how or when it stopped."
The victim recalled that she grabbed the wrist of a man who was
grabbing her buttocks, swung around with her right hand, and "hit
him in the face as hard as I could." The men in the crowd began
booing her. She recalled seeing the same lieutenant she recognized
from before her attack, still standing there, a little closer to the hall-
way. During the attack, she saw a Navy captain she knew standing
in the area of the hallway. She stated, "I was shocked to realize that
he knew what was going on and hadn't done anything to stop it . . .
In my opinion, it would have been impossible for anyone to have
been there and not know that something strange was going on."
The victim stated that she . . wandered around in shock for a
while, looking for someone I knew." She saw someone from her
squadron and she asked him to escort her to the VF-126 administra-
tive suite in room 306 where she began crying profusely. She then
asked a male Navy officer friend to walk her back to her hotel.
The Navy lieutenant identified by the victim as having been a
possible witness to the assault was interviewed. He denied seeing or
hearing anything unusual in the hallway at the time of the victim's
assault, except to say that he witnessed a female he recognized as
being a Navy officer punch a man in the face. He did not see what
precipitated the punch, and the female left the area.
The victim related that two months after Tailhook '91, she again
encountered the lieutenant. She stated, "He laid into me and chewed
me out for about an hour. He said that men have been treating
women like that since 'caveman days.' ... All the guys think like
he does ... He continually told me it was my fault for being there
in the first place. He said since I'm . . . not a Naval aviator, I had
no business being there in the first place. He also implied that I was
stupid or dumb for not recognizing the gauntlet and knowing what
would/could happen to me if I walked down it."
Victim Number 61
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
11:00 p.m.
[ 223 1
Appendix F
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 61 is a 34-year-old civilian woman who resides in California.
She and a civilian female friend (victim number 69) were staying at
the Hilton on vacation during Tailhook 91 .
According to the victim, at approximately 1 1:00 p.m. on Satur-
day, she and her friend, accompanied by at least one male aviator,
went to the third floor. As they exited the elevator and turned right,
she noticed numerous men on each side of the hallway, laughing and
drinking. As the victim walked 10 or 20 feet down the hall, the
crowd got denser. A chant started which, to her, had no distinguish-
able words. At the same time, the victim felt a bump behind her,
which pushed her forward into the crowd. The hooting and hollering
became louder and men began grabbing her buttocks, breasts, and
crotch. The victim was wearing a white blouse and black skirt both
of which the men were trying to lift. While she held her skirt, many
pairs of hands continued to grab her breasts, legs, buttocks, and
crotch. The victim looked back at her friend who was also being
assaulted and saw her friend throw a drink at one of the men. After
that, drinks were flung in all directions. As she was forced through
the gauntlet, the victim's blouse was soaked with alcohol, beer, and
some kind of pink-colored drink.
Immediately after the assault, the victim was approached by a
Marine aviator whom both she and her friend knew. He was covered
with alcohol and apologized to the victim for what had happened.
The Marine stated that the victim's friend had punched him in the
stomach. The victim now thinks that individual may have been in the
crowd and participated in the assault.
The victim and her friend left the area, returned to their room,
and discussed the incident. Early Sunday morning, they decided to
call the police. The victims had difficulty contacting the Las Vegas
Metropolitan Police through the Hilton switchboard. Once con-
tacted, the police referred the matter to the Hilton Hotel security.
The victims filed reports with Hilton security and the Las Vegas
Metropolitan Police. The incident was the only assault found to have
been reported to the police.
Victim Number 62
Status/Service/Rank: Commander (0-5)
United States Navy/Female
[ 224]
Victim/Assault Summaries
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
10:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 62 is a 37-year-old Navy commander whose husband is also
a Navy officer. The victim attended Tailhook conventions in the past.
According to the victim, on Thursday, when she first arrived at
the Hilton, she went to the third floor at 3:00 p.m. While she was
walking through the hallway, she was lifted off her feet by a young,
tall, broad white male wearing a military haircut. His breath indi-
cated he had been drinking. She told him to put her down several
times, but he refused and continued his attempts to engage her in
conversation. After a minute, a second male identified her as a com-
mander and the young male quickly put her down and apologized.
On Saturday at approximately 10:00 p.m., she entered the third-
floor hallway via the main elevators. As she was trying to push her
way through the crowd in the hall, two stickers were "zapped" on
either side of her buttocks by unknown person(s). When moving
through the hallway, she heard comments such as "You're ugly"
and "Flag wife." The men in the hallway straightened up immedi-
ately when the last comment was heard. The victim told us that, in
her opinion, she was not a "victim" of an assault merely because
she was "zapped" without her consent.
Victim Number 63
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
12:00 midnight
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 63 is a 30-year-old civilian from California, who went to Las
Vegas with a girlfriend to attend a concert. They were invited by an
unidentified person to a party on the third floor of the Hilton after
the concert.
[ 225 ]
Appendix F
According to the victim, on arriving on the third floor, she met a
male Navy lieutenant who asked her to go with him to look for some
of his friends. As they began to walk up the hallway, she saw that it
was lined with men. As she entered the crowd, the men immediately
converged upon her. She felt hands reach out and grab, pinch, and
touch her on her breasts, buttocks, and crotch. The men cheered and
yelled as they grabbed at her. She lowered her head and began to
swing her arms in an attempt to break free. The Navy lieutenant,
who was behind her, grabbed her waist and pushed her through the
crowd into one of the administrative suites.
The victim was surprised and shocked over the incident but could
not identify anyone in the hallway other than the Navy lieutenant she
was with.
According to the Navy lieutenant, he and the victim were in the
hallway near the "Rhino room" (room 308) when he noticed the
victim start "jumping around." She subsequently opened the door
to one of the hospitality suites and pulled him inside. The victim told
him that the men in the hallway were groping her breasts and but-
tocks and had reached up under her skirt. The officer told us that he
wanted to go back out to the hallway to identify those responsible
but the victim was adamant about not wanting to go back there. They
went out to the pool patio through the administrative suite and did
not return to the hallway area.
Victim Number 64
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
10:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 64 is an 18-year-old student who resides in Las Vegas. She
attended Tailhook '91 with two female civilian friends at the sugges-
tion of a female friend who is a student at the UNLV
According to the victim, she and her friends spent the majority of
the evening in the "Helicopter Suite," which was located in room
315. The victim drank beer and margaritas that were prepared and
[226}
Victim/Assault Summaries
served in the suite. She and her friends danced and talked and were
given alcoholic drinks by the men in the suite. The victim became
intoxicated. As evidenced by a poster signed by some of the men in
the suite and given to the victim, the men were aware that she was
under the legal age for consuming alcohol.
The victim next remembered being out in the hallway and being
thrown in the air by a crowd of men. The crowd stripped the victim
of her slacks and panties and dropped her on the floor. Security
guards helped her dress behind a sheet and then took her to the Se-
curity Office to contact her parents.
The assault was witnessed by dozens of the people interviewed.
One witness stated he saw several males standing in the hallway near
the door of the helicopter squadron administrative suite (room 315).
He observed the victim in the hallway and saw her surrounded by the
men in the hallway. The witness observed an article of clothing
thrown into the air above the crowd. Suddenly, the crowd dispersed
and within a matter of seconds, the hallway was cleared of people.
The witness saw the victim sitting on the floor against a wall near
room 315. Security guards picked up the victim and led her down
the hallway.
A male Navy officer stated that he observed the victim in the
helicopter squadron administrative suite. She was drinking alcohol
and was very intoxicated. He and one of the squadron members
picked the victim up from where she had fallen on the floor and
carried her out to the hallway. They sat her in the hallway, went back
inside the suite, and closed the door. Moments later, the witness
heard a loud commotion in the hallway. He looked out into the hall-
way and saw that it was completely cleared of people. The victim
was sprawled in the middle of the hallway and, he believed, she was
wearing only a pair of underpants. He watched as security guards
came and removed the girl from the hallway. The witness stated that
he was "embarrassed and ashamed" about taking the victim into the
hallway.
Another witness, a male Navy officer, was standing in the hallway
when he saw a fully clothed female being passed along hand-over-
hand above the crowd in the hallway. He thought about participating,
but decided against it. He watched as men began stripping off the
victim's clothing. Someone yelled, "Broken arrow," and the victim
was dropped to the floor. The witness started moving toward the
victim because he thought she might have been hurt, but he suddenly
realized that he was the only person in the hallway going toward the
[227]
A. PPENDIX F
victim, while everyone else was running away from the incident. He
too then turned and went through one of the other administrative
suites and out to the pool patio.
Several Navy aviators we interviewed witnessed the assault; how-
ever, all stated they were merely observers and none were able to
identify any individual who removed the victim's clothing. We ob-
tained a photograph from a naval aviator that depicted the minor,
nude from the waist down, being escorted from the hallway by se-
curity officers.
Victim Number 65
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
9:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 65 is a 20-year-old civilian who attended Tailhook '91 with
three civilian female friends and her fiance, a Navy officer.
According to the victim, as the group walked through the crowded
hallway on the third floor, she was pinched on the buttocks. She
quickly turned around but could not determine who had pinched her.
She was upset over the incident and told her fiance what had hap-
pened. The victim and her friends then went out to the pool patio,
where they stayed for the remainder of the evening.
Victim Number 66
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
• 0 •
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
8:30 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
[228]
Victim/Assault Summaries
Victim 66 is a 32-year-old spouse of a Navy lieutenant commander.
She attended the Tailhook Association convention with her husband,
her mother, and her mother's two female friends.
According to the victim, she, her husband, and one of her moth-
er's friends walked out of the VMFP-3 administrative suite in room
308 of the Hilton Hotel to go to the VR-57 administrative suite in
room 357. As they proceeded down the hallway, they walked single
file because the hallway was so crowded. Her husband led the way,
followed by the victim and the friend. As she walked down the hall-
way, she was suddenly grabbed around the waist by two men and
lifted into the air. She was wearing a formal black cocktail dress and
the men lifted the skirt of the dress above her waist. She was not
wearing nylons or pantyhose, and the men placed their hands be-
tween her legs and attempted to get their fingers inside her panties.
The men appeared to be drunk and were laughing while they held
her in the air. She did not say anything to them, but thought to her-
self, "If looks could kill, you would be a goner." She was placed
back on the ground, and she hurried down the hall to find her hus-
band. She did not recognize the men, but remembered thinking that
they were military, "young west coast aviators," because of their
haircuts. She felt helpless and feared the men were going to rip her
dress off. Immediately after the assault, she went to her room and
changed into shorts because she "did not want to be mistaken for a
prostitute." She felt "helpless, angry, violated, and humiliated."
The victim told her husband what had happened, and, together,
they decided to keep the assault private, even after other assaults that
took place at the Tailhook convention became public. The reason for
the reluctance to come forward was the fear that, if they acknowl-
edged or reported the assault, her husband's naval career would be
jeopardized. Despite that fact, both the victim and her spouse co-
operated fully in the investigation.
Victim Number 67
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
10:00 p.m.
[ 229 1
Appendix F
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 67 is a 33-year-old civilian.
According to the victim, she went to the Tailhook '91 convention
accompanied by her sister. They went to the third floor at 10:00 p.m.
on Saturday. As they entered and attempted to proceed through the
hallway, a group of men attacked them. The victim's buttocks was
grabbed at least twice. When she turned, she saw a crowd of men
with short hair, most wearing polo shirts and jeans, laughing at her.
The victim described the men in the hallway as "rowdy, drunk,
throwing up. . . ." She stated that, since the men all looked alike,
she could not identify her assailants. She added that after the attack,
she felt awful and just wanted to get away. The victim's sister was
also assaulted.
Victim Number 68
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7 or
Sunday, September 8, 1991 —
1:00 a.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 68 is a 20-year-old female student at the UNLV. She attended
Tailhook '91 with four friends.
According to the victim, at 1:00 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday, the
victim was walking down the hallway alone when she was forcibly
grabbed in her private areas. She was frightened and did not make
eye contact with anyone as she tried to move through the crowd.
When she got through, she looked back and saw another girl being
thrown around. The victim said it appeared the crowd was stripping
this girl's clothes off. The incident seemed so unbelievable and vio-
lent that she immediately went to the pool area. She was followed by
a dark-complexioned male, either Italian or Hispanic, who com-
mented about the girl being stripped naked. He acted as if it was fun,
like a "great event" had just occurred.
[ 230 ]
Victim/Assault Summaries
The victim witnessed three or four incidents of ballwalking
throughout the evening. The victim also saw naked people in the hot
tub. She noted that, although she was not then of legal age, she had
no trouble getting alcoholic drinks since no one asked her for iden-
tification.
Victim Number 69
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
11:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 69 is a 3 3 -year-old civilian woman who resides in California.
She and her civilian female friend (victim number 61) were staying
at the Hilton on vacation during Tailhook '91.
According to the victim, at approximately 11:00 p.m. on Satur-
day, she and her female friend, accompanied by at least one male
aviator, went to the third floor. As they exited the elevator and turned
right, she noticed numerous men whom she believed to be young,
apparently military officers in the hall. The victim followed her
friend down the hall. A few feet into the crowd she began to hear a
chant. There were no words to the chant, just sounds such as "ooh"
and " ah." At the same time, the crowd closed in around her and she
felt hands all over her. Hands reached up her dress and grabbed her
crotch; other hands grabbed her breasts and buttocks. She tried to
fight them off, but was unable to because of the number. She threw
her drink at someone, then drinks were thrown on her. She also
punched someone in the stomach, but did not see whom she hit.
Eventually, the crowd thinned out and she was able to extricate her-
self. At that time, she rejoined victim number 61 and the aviator who
was with them when they first entered the gauntlet. They were also
joined by a second aviator who was holding his stomach. The second
aviator, who was known to both victims, told the victim she had
punched him in the stomach.
The victim added that she was so concerned with fighting off the
men who were grabbing her, and keeping her dress down, that she
[ 231 ]
Appendix F
never realized whom she had punched until the aviator approached
her. She now believes that he was either an active participant in the
gauntlet or encouraged it.
The victim said that both she and her friend had tried to report the
incident that night to the Las Vegas Police through the hotel switch-
board, but instead, the hotel security came to their room. The secur-
ity officer was more concerned about the damage to the victims'
clothing than what happened to them. The victims filled out reports
for the hotel and also filed reports with the Las Vegas Police on
Sunday morning prior to leaving.
Both victims have provided several statements to authorities that
differ slightly in some details, but are consistent with the account of
their assault.
Victim Number 70
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday night, September 7,
1991 — 12:00 midnight
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 70 is a 24-year-old who resides in the Los Angeles area. She
attended the Tailhook Association convention with the female spouse
of a Navy officer.
According to the victim, at approximately 12:00 midnight on Sat-
urday night, September 7, 1991 , she left the VAW-1 10 administrative
suite located in room 303 of the Hilton Hotel to look for a friend. As
she stepped out into the hallway, she noticed there were many men
lined up along the hallway, seemingly minding their own business.
As she walked up the hallway, about 10 feet, she was suddenly at-
tacked by at least seven men. She was wearing a "tube top" that
was pulled down to expose her breasts. The men grabbed her breasts
and buttocks while she attempted to cover herself with her arms. She
fell to the ground, where the assault continued. During the attack,
she bit several of the men on their arms and other places in an at-
tempt to make them stop grabbing her. She did not recognize any of
the men in the hallway at that time, but believed they were Marines
[ 232 ]
Victim/Assault Summaries
because of their haircuts and demeanor. Finally, they stopped then-
assault and allowed her to get up. Immediately after the attack, she
was approached in the hallway by a Marine aviator she had met the
night before. She was crying profusely, and he told her it is an an-
nual tradition at Tailhook conventions to harass women physically
and verbally in the hallway and she should not worry about it. After
escaping from her attackers, she looked back down the hallway and
observed a white female screaming and fighting her way through the
hallway as she was being assaulted. She related her experience to her
boyfriend, a Navy lieutenant. Her boyfriend advised her not to tell
anyone she was there because they would think she was a "slut."
Victim Number 71
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
Exact Time Unknown
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third and Fourteenth
Floors, Las Vegas Hilton
Victim 71 is a 24-year-old civilian currently residing in Arizona.
According to the victim, after she had consumed several drinks,
she met an individual who asked her to follow him down the hall-
way. As they proceeded down the hallway, he disappeared. She
heard males yelling and screaming. She was grabbed and eventually
knocked down onto the floor. She got up, then continued down the
hallway. Thinking the fire exit was a dead end, the victim turned
around and came back through the crowd as she tried to escape the
area completely. Again she was grabbed everywhere on her body,
including her groin and breasts. She related that hands were all over
her and that, although the incident lasted only about 5 minutes, it
seemed to last forever. When the victim reached the wall near the
service area, she stopped and cried. At that time, the man who had
asked her to proceed down the hallway reappeared and said the males
were "a bunch of jerks" and suggested that the victim come with
him and that everything would be okay.
He took the victim to a guest room on the 14th floor. The amount
of alcohol the victim had consumed impaired her ability to recall
[ 233 1
Appendix F
exactly what happened next. The victim remembered being naked in
the shower w hen the man grabbed her by the arm and threw her out
in the hallway. The victim screamed and eried out to him for her
clothes, but he pushed her out of the room and shut the door. The
victim recalled that, as he propelled her out the door, she scratched
him hard enough to leave marks. In an effort to avoid being seen,
she attempted to reenter the room she thought she had been in. When
she knocked on the doop, no one responded. Hotel security appeared
shortly thereafter w ith a sheet to cover her.
A month or two after Tailhook '91, the victim recalled being in
the shower with the man, prior to being thrown out of the room.
Although she cannot remember anything that happened from the
time she entered the room until she woke up naked in the shower,
she believes she engaged in consensual sex with the man.
The victim expressed she now believes that the man knew she
would be assaulted when he led her down the hallway.
Victim Number 72
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
12:(X) midnight
Place of Incident: Hallway and Pool Patio, Third
Floor, Las Vegas Hilton
Victim 72 is a 21 -year-old State employee.
According to the victim, she and three female friends traveled to
Las Vegas from New York on vacation. While in Las Vegas, they
met several Navy aviators who invited them to a "Navy party ' 1 at
the Las Vegas Hilton.
While on the pool patio, she was assaulted by "military party
attendees." She was approached by a man who grabbed her arms
and shook her "in order to watch my breasts shake." He then
grabbed her left breast with his right hand. She reacted by stepping
back, swearing at him, and throwing her drink in his face. The man
became "very angry" and attempted to hit her. At that point one of
the men she was with stepped in and told the man to leave her alone.
She was very upset and crying.
I 234 1
Victim/Assault Summaries
She and her friends decided to leave the party after the incident.
They walked through the hallway on the third floor to go to the pas-
senger elevators. While walking through the hallway, she noticed
there were "several inebriated men lined up against both sides of the
hallway." As she and her friends passed through, the men made
"crude remarks" and then "pawed and grabbed" at the women.
After they left the Hilton, the Navy aviators they were with apol-
ogized to the women for taking them to the party.
Victim Number 73
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
5:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Pool Patio, Las Vegas Hilton
Victim 73 is a 35-year-old civilian from California. She attended the
Tailhook Association convention in 1991 with her spouse, a civilian,
and her brother, an officer in the United States Navy.
According to the victim, at 5:00 p.m., while standing on the pool
patio with her brother and her husband, she felt someone brushing
up against her. At first she thought the individual was just trying to
push through the crowd. She turned around and observed a "white
male aviator" walking away. Her brother immediately asked her if
she realized that the unidentified man "had his [penis] in her hair."
She denied observing the individual's penis, but requested to leave
the third floor. She does not believe she could identify the individual
who assaulted her.
The victim's brother was a witness to the incident. He stated that
he saw an individual standing "unusually close" behind his sister.
As he looked at the man, he observed the man's penis was exposed,
and he either wrapped his penis in the victim's waist-length hair, or
was brushing his penis against her hair. When the victim turned to
look, the man immediately turned, walked away, and got lost in the
crowd. He stated that "Even if I could, I don't think I would identify
the guy." He said that what happened to his sister was not "wrong
in the context of the Tailhook party," and "nobody was hurt."
Another witness, a Navy lieutenant (0-3) stated he was standing
1 235 1
Appendix F
on the pool patio when he heard someone in the group yell that
someone he knew had just made a bet, and he was about to "wrap a
girl's hair around his penis." He looked over in the direction of the
activity and saw the suspect standing behind a girl with long hair.
His view was obstructed, so he did not actually see the subject ex-
pose his penis. He saw the girl turn around and the suspect disap-
peared into the crowd. The witness identified the suspect.
Victim Number 74
(See page 246)
Victim Number 75
(See page 246)
Victim Number 76
Status/Service/Rank:
Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident:
Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
Time Unknown
Place of Incident:
Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 76 is a 23-year-old civilian who resides in California.
According to the victim, she attended the Tailhook Association
convention in 1991 with three female friends. They went to the third
floor of the Hilton on Saturday, September 7, 1991, sometime after
7:00 p.m. and remained there until 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning, vis-
iting all the administrative suites.
It was very crowded in the hallway and as she walked through the
part of the hallway known as the "gauntlet" area, she was pinched
on the buttocks by several unknown males. She did not let it bother
her and "blew it off," thinking of the men, "What jerks."
[236]
Victim/Assault Summaries
Victim Number 77
Status/Service/Rank:
Ensign (O-l) United States Navy/
Female
Date/Time of Incident: Sunday, September 8, 1991 —
Victim 77 is a 23-year-old Navy ensign. Tailhook '91 was the first
convention she had attended.
According to the victim, she and several unidentified males were
discussing women in combat in the CNATRA suite when an uniden-
tified drunk male approached her and placed his hands on her
breasts. He said in essence, 4 'Can I touch your boobs?" She was
shocked and angry. She pushed the male away with both of her fists
in his chest and said, "I'm a naval officer, and I don't appreciate
that at all." The male responded "Oh, shit," which the victim in-
terpreted to mean he had really "screwed up" because she was not
some girl who just happened to be there, and she could find him
later. Friends of the male took him away and apologized for his be-
havior. The victim described the male as a "drunken ass" and stated
that she doubted the man was even aware of what he was doing.
The victim told us that she did not consider herself a victim of
any criminal activity. She felt she took care of the situation when it
occurred and that it was over.
Victim Number 78
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
3:00 a.m.
Place of Incident:
CNATRA Suite, Room 364
12:00 midnight
Place of Incident:
VMFP-3 ("Rhino" Suite) and
Patio, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
I237]
Appendix F
Victim 78 is a 26-year-old woman who resides in New York. She
and two of her female friends were invited to Tailhook '91 by two
aviators.
According to the victim, she entered the "'Rhino" suite at approx-
imately 12:00 midnight and was asked if she wanted a drink. An
aviator then took her hand, introducing her to people in the suite.
The victim stated that as everyone started chanting her name, a
crowd of people stepped away from a wall on which hung a mural of
a rhinoceros. The mural had a hose-like contraption attached to the
rhinoceros' genital area which dispensed drinks. The victim was ex-
pected to kneel on the floor and drink from the "penis." The crowd
surrounding her laughed and the man who escorted her into the room
grabbed her arms and stood in front of her to restrain her from leav-
ing. One of the aviators who had invited her assisted her in leaving
the suite.
Later, while the victim was talking to people in the patio area, a
man lifted her culottes shorts with a plastic drink straw. She de-
manded that he stop three times: the fourth time, she turned and
slapped the man. as well as the male friend who encouraged him.
Victim Number 79
Status/Service/Rank:
Civ ilian Female
Date Time of Incident:
Saturday. September 7. 1991
Time Unknown
Sunday, September 8, 199 1 —
Early Morning
Place of Incident:
Pool Patio. Third Floor. Las
Vegas Hilton
VMFP-3 Administrative Suite.
Third Floor. Las Vegas Hilton
Victim 79 is the wife of a Navy lieutenant. She attended Tailhook
'91 with her husband.
According to the victim, she and a female friend were standing
on the pool patio sometime on Saturday evening when they were
approached by an unidentified white male. He cupped her buttocks
in one of his hands and asked, "Do you mind if I do this?" She told
[238]
Victim/Assault Summaries
him he was "pathetic." He told her he had been watching her and
''they dared me," indicating a group of men standing nearby.
Later Saturday evening or Sunday morning, the victim and her
friend were walking through the third-floor hallway. They were in
front of the VMFP-3 administrative suite, known as the "Rhino"
suite, when a man wearing a "Rhino" horn hat on his head stepped
out of the suite and grabbed her arm. He began pulling her into the
suite by the arm, at which point her friend grabbed her other arm
and tried to pull her back out into the hallway. She was screaming
for them to stop because they were "yanking my arms out." Her
friend released her arm, and she was pulled into the "Rhino" suite.
The man who pulled her in asked her name. He told her that no one
in the room could have a drink until she stroked and sucked the
"penis" on the rhino mural. About 50 people in the room began
cheering and taunting, chanting her name over and over. As she was
pulled toward the rhino mural, she kept refusing, saying no, and she
crossed her arms in front of her. The man finally let her go and her
friend grabbed her and pulled her from the room. As they left, the
crowd began chanting "We hate [her name]. We hate [her name]."
The incident left her shaken and unnerved.
She described the man who pulled her into the suite as a white
male, 5' 10" tall, weighing 160 pounds, slight build, dark hair, wear-
ing an open print shirt and a "Rhino" horn hat. According to a
witness, she and the victim were on the pool patio on Saturday eve-
ning when a man approached them and placed his hands on the vic-
tim's buttocks. Both women were surprised and upset by the inci-
dent, but did not do anything about it at the time. The witness stated
that she and the victim were in the "Rhino" suite when one of the
men in the room tried to coerce the victim into drinking from the
rhinoceros "penis" attached to a mural of a rhinoceros. The people
in the suite began chanting the victim's name, but she resisted the
man and refused to touch the rhino. The witness then grabbed the
victim by the arm and pulled her out of the suite.
Victim Number 80
Status/Service/Rank:
Date/Time of Incident:
Lieutenant (0-3)
United States Navy/Female
Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
10:00 p.m.
[ 239 1
Appendix F
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor. Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 80 is a 23-year-old Navy lieutenant. She attended Tailhooks
'89 and '91.
According to the victim, she and a male Navy officer friend de-
cided to go down the hallway even though it was very crowded. Her
friend walked in front, of her. pushing a path through so she could
follow. She soon lost sight of him and began to yell his name. Sud-
denly men began grabbing her breasts and body * " all over." Her
friend looked back and saw that she had been stopped by the crowd
and he started pushing his way back toward her. A man behind her
whom she did not know said. "Let's get you out of here." He put
his arms around her and pulled her out of the crow d.
Victim Number 81
Status Service Rank: Lieutenant (0-3 1
United States Navy Female
Date Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7. 1991 —
Evening. Time Unknown
Place of Incident: CNATRA Suite I Room 364) and
Hallway, Third Floor. Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 81 is a 2~-year-old Navy lieutenant from California.
According to the victim, she was in the CNATRA administrative
suite conversing with two male Navy officers when a third male
Navy officer approached her and began to Rib her leg from her knee
to her ankle. She told him to stop, but he continued to rub her leg.
She told him again to stop and asked his name and unit. The man
stopped rubbing her leg and told her he was a surface warfare officer.
The victim was very offended by the act.
On Friday or Saturday night at approximately 6:00-7:00 p.m. the
victim was grabbed on the buttocks w hile she walked in the hallway
on the third floor. She immediately turned to see who had grabbed
her. but was unable to identify anyone in the hallway.
The victim related that on Saturday evening she was conversing
[240]
Victim/Assault Summaries
in the hallway with a male acquaintance who is a Navy lieutenant
commander. He asked her if she was breast-feeding her infant and
she replied that she was. He in turn told her he would like to try
breast-feeding from her. Judging from the drink in his hand, the
victim concluded that he must have been intoxicated to have made
such a remark.
Victim Number 82
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Sunday, September 8, 1991 —
1:00 a.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 82 is a 24-year-old woman who attended Tailhook '91 with
two female civilian friends.
According to the victim, she was walking alone through the
crowded hallway on the third floor of the Hilton Hotel when a man
she described as "sloppy looking" head-butted her in the stomach.
The blow caused her to fall back and someone standing behind her
grabbed her buttocks. In response to being grabbed, the victim
kicked backwards, making contact. She heard someone say, "Nice
kick, babe." The victim was surprised and irritated by what had
happened and did not go into the third-floor hallway again.
Victim Number 83
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
11:45 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 83, a 26-year-old civilian from the San Juan Capistrano, Cal-
ifornia, area, attended the Tailhook Association convention in 1991
[ 241 1
Appendix F
with several friends. She stated that the majority of her friends are
either Marine or Navy aviators.
According to the victim, on Saturday evening, September 7,
1991, at 11:45 p.m., she and a friend began to walk through the
crowd in the third-floor hallway. They had walked only a few steps,
when she felt someone grab her crotch. She described the grab as
being "very intense," and she looked up to see a man grinning at
her. She asked if he had grabbed her and he replied that he had. She
immediately punched the man in the face, which caused him to fall
to the ground. The men in the hallway began booing her and grab-
bing at her buttocks as she continued through the hallway. The inci-
dent took place near room 307.
She stated she did not know any of the men in the hallway at the
time of the incident; however, she identified the man she punched as
"apparently a naval aviator" because he was wearing an "Annapo-
lis" ring and a necklace with an anchor pendant.
Victim Number 84
(See page 246)
Victim Number 85
(See page 246)
Victim Number 86
Status/Service/Rank:
Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident:
September 1991 — Date and Time
Unknown
Place of Incident:
Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 86 is a 33-year-old Federal Government employee.
When the victim was interviewed by NIS investigators in Decem-
ber 1991 regarding her attendance at Tailhook '91, she indicated she
was grabbed and pinched while walking through the third-floor hall-
way.
[ 242 ]
Victim/Assault Summaries
She was contacted for an interview by an investigator from the
OIG, DoD, in August 1992, at which time she refused to provide
any information regarding her assault.
Victim Number 87
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
8:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 87 is a 25-year-old woman from California.
According to the victim, on Saturday, September 7, 1991, she
exited the elevators on the third floor of the Las Vegas Hilton and
turned toward the hallway where she saw a line of men on both sides
of the hallway. She had no idea what was about to happen. As she
walked through the hallway, men began intentionally and deliber-
ately grabbing her breasts, buttocks, and crotch. She attempted to
hit the men's hands away from her body, but that only seemed to
intensify their groping and grabbing and she was firmly grabbed six
or seven times while she walked through the hallway.
Although she was not physically injured, she was stunned and
shocked and experienced a loss of breath. She remembered thinking
while the men were grabbing at her body, "I can't believe this is
really happening."
She indicated she was unable to identify any of the men in the
hallway at the time of the assault.
The victim's cousin, a male Navy lieutenant, was in the area when
the victim got out of the crowd. He told us that the victim had ad-
vised him that she had been touched and grabbed. He also recalled
that the victim remarked that passing through the hall had been a lot
like going to a gynecologist.
Victim Number 88
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
[ 243 1
Appendix F
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
11:30 p.m.
Place of Incident: Hallway, Third Floor, Las Vegas
Hilton
Victim 88 is a 46-year-old civilian who resides in California. She
attended Tailhooks *90 and '91.
According to the victim, she was grabbed on the buttocks in the
hallway of the Hilton Hotel during Tailhook '90, so she avoided the
hallway at Tailhook '91.
On Saturday evening, the victim entered the third-floor hallway
through one of the hospitality suites. As she walked up the hallway
and neared room 308, she was grabbed on the buttocks. She pressed
her back against the wall and stood there until she felt she could
safely leave the hallway.
Victim Number 89
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Saturday, September 7, 1991 —
10:00 p.m.
Place of Incident: Pool Patio, Third Floor, Las
Vegas Hilton
Victim 89 is a 23-year-old civilian who resides in California. She
attended Tailhook '91 with a female friend.
According to the victim, she entered a hospitality suite on the
third floor of the Hilton Hotel to obtain a beer. A man, whom she
described as a large Marine, pinned her arms against her sides,
picked her up, and twirled her around several times. She screamed
for him to put her down, but her screams could not be heard over the
loud music in the suite. Some of the people in the suite looked at her
as if they thought the incident was funny, but no one came to her
aid. The victim said she was "dragged" out of the suite and onto
the pool patio where her assailant sat down in a plastic chair, pulling
her down into his lap so that she faced him. He raised her shirt to
completely expose her breasts, and he roughly applied his mouth to
[ 244 ]
Victim/Assault Summaries
her breasts, neck, and face. The man continued his assault for sev-
eral minutes and then directed that the victim wait while he went to
the bathroom. As soon as the man turned to leave, the victim ran
from the area. The victim told us she was shaking, crying, and walk-
ing around in a daze, as well as shocked and frightened at the vio-
lence of the assault. She told several Marine Corps officers what had
happened shortly after the assault.
Victim Number 90
Status/Service/Rank: Civilian/Female
Date/Time of Incident: Thursday, Friday, or Saturday,
September 5, 6, or 7, 1991 —
Evening, Time Unknown
Place of Incident: Casino, Las Vegas Hilton
Victim 90 is a civilian who resides in California. She attended Tail-
hook '91 with a civilian female friend.
According to the friend, the victim told her she was in the Hilton
Hotel casino playing blackjack with a male Navy officer, when an-
other Navy officer at the table leaned across and grabbed her breast.
The victim acknowledged the assault to us, but stated that she
would not provide further details.
Male Victims
Summary:
The following summaries concern seven male naval officers who re-
ported they were assaulted on the third floor of the Las Vegas Hilton
atTailhook '91:
Victim Number 32 is a 27-year-old Navy lieutenant who was pinched
on the buttocks in the hallway by an unknown person. The hallway
was so crowded he 4 'could not tell who was doing what."
[ 245 1
.Appendix F
Victim Number 75 is a 33-year-old Navy lieutenant commander.
While in the VS-41 administrative suite located in room 304, he was
approached by a "tall woman in a knit dress" who walked up to
him, grabbed his genitals through his clothing, and yelled ''package
check." She then offered to perform a sex act for money.
Victim Number 35 is a 26-year-old Navy lieutenant. While walking
through the hallway, he was pinched on the buttocks by an unknown
woman. A short time later he was grabbed in the crotch by a differ-
ent woman. He retaliated by pinching the woman on the buttocks.
Victim Number 74 is a 41 -year-old Marine lieutenant colonel. He
was standing on the pool patio when he was pinched on the left
buttock by an unknown woman. Our investigation disclosed that the
"victim" provided false statements to investigators regarding other
acts of impropriety at Tailhook '91. When confronted with those dis-
crepancies, he retracted his previous statements. Although he continued
to maintain that his statements regarding his assault are truthful as re-
ported, he requested that the matter not be further pursued.
Victim Number 15 is a 32-year-old Navy lieutenant. He was pinched
on the buttocks by an unknown person in the hallway.
Victim Number 85 is a 29-year-old Marine captain. While in the
VMFP-3 administrative suite (room 308), two women pulled his
shorts down to his knees.
Victim Number 84 is a 22-year-old Navy ensign. He was pinched on
the buttocks by military men in the hallway.
Victims Assaulted During Prior Tailhook
Conventions
Summary:
The following 10 indecent assaults occurred in the hallway of the
third floor at the Las Vegas Hilton during Tailhook conventions in
years prior to Tailhook '91:
[246]
Victim/Assault Summaries
Victim Number 91 is a 29-year-old female Government contractor
employee. At Tailhook '90, she was grabbed in the crotch and
breasts. She could not identify the man, so she did not report the
incident.
Victim Number 92 is a 29-year-old female Navy lieutenant. At Tail-
hook '89 she was pinched and grabbed on the buttocks. She did not
report the assault because she could not identify her assailant.
Victim Number 93 is a 33-year-old female civilian who resides in
Nevada. At Tailhook '90, she was "grabbed" in the hallway on the
third floor of the Las Vegas Hilton.
Victim Number 94 is a 31 -year-old female Navy lieutenant. She at-
tended Tailhooks '86, '87, '90, and '91. At one convention prior to
Tailhook '91, she was pinched, and at another Tailhook, she was
picked up by a man and carried down the hallway.
Victim Number 95 is a 27 -year-old female civilian who resides in
California. She attended Tailhook '90 at the invitation of a friend
who is a male Navy lieutenant commander. As she approached a
crowd of men in the hallway, they closed in on her and began to
push her through the passageway. They grabbed her breasts, crotch,
and buttocks. Men lifted up her skirt and placed squadron stickers
on her crotch and buttocks. They unbuttoned her blouse and ripped
her sleeve. She escaped the crowd through one of the administrative
suites. When she described what happened to her to the male Navy
officer who invited her to Tailhook, he responded, "Boys will be
boys."
Victim Number 96 is a 24-year-old female Navy lieutenant. She at-
tended Tailhooks '89, '90, and '91. At Tailhook '89, she was stand-
ing on the pool patio when she saw a man, who appeared to be
extremely intoxicated, walking around with his penis/testicles ex-
posed. The man came up behind the victim, grabbed her hips, and
pressed his body against her buttocks. She threw her drink in his
face.
[247]
Appendix F
Victim Number 97 is a 31 -year-old female Navy lieutenant. She at-
tended Tailhooks '89 and '91 . As she walked through the hallway on
the third floor of the Hilton Hotel, she was pinched on the buttocks
and grabbed on the breasts by unknown males.
Victim Number 98 is a 41 -year-old female former employee of the
Hilton Hotel. During Tjailhook '89, she was a blackjack dealer in the
casino on the first floor of the hotel. Four or five men from the "Tail
Gunners" convention sat at her table, yelling comments such as
"Show us your tits." While on her break, one of those men came
up behind her and ran his hand up her skirt.
Victim Number 99 is a 28-year-old female Navy lieutenant who at-
tended Tailhooks '86, '87, '88, '89. and '91. At Tailhook '87, she
was grabbed on the breasts by men in the "gauntlet." She still went
on the third floor in subsequent years, but avoided the hallway when
it was crowded.
Victim Number 100 is a 25-year-old female military spouse who
attended Tailhook '90 with a female friend. She entered the third
floor of the Hilton Hotel by way of the passenger elevators. As she
walked down what appeared to be a path in the crowded hallway, the
men on either side of the hallway suddenly collapsed around her.
Approximately 20 men began to grab, pinch, and touch her breasts,
buttocks, and crotch. One man got his hand inside her clothing and
grabbed her bare buttocks. The men verbally abused the victim, call-
ing her "bitch" and saying "I'd like to f— you." She fought the
crowd, screaming, "Leave me alone."
[248]
Appendix G
List of Flag Officers
Rank/Name
Thirty-two active duty flag/general officers attended Tailhook '91:
ADM Robert J. Kelly
ADM Frank B. Kelso
VADM William C. Bowes
VADM Richard M. Dunleavy
VADM John H. Fetterman, Jr.
VADM Edwin R. Kohn, Jr.
VADM Anthony A. Less
VADM Jerry L. Unruh
LT GEN Duane A. Wills,
USMC
RADM Riley D. Mixson
MG GEN Clyde L. Vermilyea,
USMC
RADM (SEL) Philip S.
Anselmo
RADM (SEL) Paul W. Parcells
RADM (SEL) Luther F.
Schriefer
RADM (L) Don W. Baird
RADM (L) Joseph J. Dantone,
Jr.
RADM (L) James H. Finney
RADM (L) Robert P. Hickey
RADM (L) Jay L. Johnson
RADM (L) John A. Lockard
RADM (L) William P.
McGowen
RADM (L) John A. Moriarty
RADM (L) William E.
Newman
RADM (L) Bernard J. Smith
RADM (L) Robert J. Spane
RADM (L) Frank L. Tillotson
RADM (L) Joseph S. Walker
RADM (L) (SEL) Charles S.
Abbot
RADM (L) (SEL) John M.
Luecke
RADM (L) (SEL) John W.
Snyder, Jr.
RADM (L) (SEL) Jay W.
Sprague
RADM (L) (SEL) JayB.
Yakeley, III
Three Reserve flag officers attended Tailhook '91:
RADM Wilson F. Flagg
RADM (L) Ronald R. Morgan
RADM (SEL) Kenneth W. Pettigrew
[ 249 ]
Appendix G
Acronyms/ Designators :
ADM = Admiral
VADM = Vice Admiral
LT GEN = Lieutenant General
MG GEN = Major General
RADM = Rear Admiral
(L) = Lower Half
(SEL) = Select
USMC = U.S. Marine Corps
[ 250 ]
Iljjjilllll ||||'|| l,brary
3 9999 02029 822 8
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Boston Public Librar
COPLEY S
GENERAL L
The Date Due Card in the pocket in-
dicates the date on or before which
this book should be returned to the
Library.
Please do not remove cards from this
pocket.
In September 1991, over 4,000 U.S. Navy and Marine
Corps aviation officers met in Las Vegas for the 35th
Annual Tailhook Symposium, a long-standing professional
convention of naval aviators. Over that weekend, the
parties and drunken behavior raged out of control and
resulted in widespread damage to the hotel, 90 identified
victims of indecent assault, 140 officers referred for possible
court-martial or disciplinary action, and the demotion,
transfer, or resignation of several top Navy officials.
For the first time, this, the official report of the widest-
ranging scandal in the history of the U.S. Navy, details in-
depth the abuses that occurred, including:
"The Gauntlet": A terrifying hallway into which unsus-
pecting women were lured or forced,
to be groped, assaulted, or disrobed by
hundreds of waiting naval officers.
"Ballwalking": Officers prowling the public hospitality
suites, the hotel hallways and pool
area, and the streets of downtown Las
Vegas with their genitals exposed.
"Butt Biting," "Leg Shaving," "Belly/Navel Shots,"
"Streaking," and other acts of indecency.
This report finally reveals the truth behind the rumors,
the headlines, and the scandal.
St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10010
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
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